What is BCI:
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a non-profit international membership organization that collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders to promote Better Cotton farming projects globally and facilitate the circulation of Better Cotton throughout the supply chain, in accordance with the cotton production principles established by BCI. BCI's ultimate goal is to transform cotton production practices worldwide by developing Better Cotton projects, making Better Cotton a mainstream commodity.
BCI's Six Production Principles:
Minimize the harmful impact of crop protection measures
Use water efficiently and protect water resources
Care for soil health
Protect natural habitats
Care for and preserve fiber quality
Promote decent work
How to Trace Better Cotton:
Introduction to Better Cotton Traceability Terminology:
MBA: Mass Balance Allocation traceability model; BCT: is an online traceability tool software. (BCI member spinners and cotton merchants must use this software system to record every Better Cotton transaction, and the system generates a "Sales Declaration Form" to certify that the product is a BCI product.)
BCCU: Better Cotton Claim Unit;
1 BCCU = 1 kg of Better Cotton;
Better Cotton Sales Declaration Form
(Evidence certifying that the product is a BCI product)
BCI's Chain of Custody Model:
Mass Balance supply chain custody model, where Better Cotton and conventional cotton can be substituted for one another. BCI's Mass Balance Approach (MBA) supply chain custody model applies to all supply chain companies from the ginning stage onward, including retailers. For any company, the quantity of physical cotton sold as Better Cotton products (allocated BCCUs) does not exceed the quantity of cotton purchased as Better Cotton products (obtained BCCUs) (taking into account the relevant conversion rates).
The Better Cotton Sales Declaration Form is also referred to by industry professionals as the BCI certificate. When a BCI member supplies Better Cotton products to a customer, if the customer is not a BCI system user, the producer will issue an ODF (Output Declaration Form) at the time of delivery to certify that the transaction involves Better Cotton. The declaration form contains key information such as the buyer and seller, BCCU volume, etc. The customer then forwards the ODF form along with the shipment downstream until it reaches the final brand owner.
If both the buyer and seller are BCI members or users and both have traceability platform accounts, they can transfer BCCUs directly without the need to issue an ODF form.
