First, the definition and background of BCI certification
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) certification is a sustainable cotton industry certification system initiated by the Better Cotton Development Association, a global non-profit organisation. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the organization aims to promote the sustainable development of the global cotton industry by promoting environmentally friendly, socially inclusive and economically viable cotton production.
With the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, water waste and labor rights in traditional cotton cultivation, BCI certification came into being. With its core philosophy of "Better Cotton, Better Life", it is committed to balancing agricultural production, ecological protection and social responsibility to provide transparent, traceable and sustainable raw material solutions for the textile industry.

Second, the core principles of BCI certification
BCI certification is structured around three pillars, covering environmental, social and economic areas:
1. Environmental sustainability: Promote the reduction of chemical use, the protection of water and soil health, and the maintenance of biodiversity, such as the promotion of water-efficient irrigation techniques and integrated pest management (IPM).
2. Social Inclusion: Protect the labor rights of cotton farmers and workers, including fair wages, safe working conditions, prohibition of child and forced labor, and improve the skills of cotton farmers through training.
3. Economic feasibility: Enhance the market competitiveness of cotton farmers by improving cotton production and quality, and establish a fair trade mechanism to protect their economic returns.

Third, the scope and process of BCI certification
BCI certification covers the entire cotton industry chain, from planting to processing, distribution and end products, and the specific requirements include:
1. Planting
Agricultural production: scientific management of soil fertility, promotion of crop rotation and organic fertilizer; the use of drip irrigation technology to improve water use efficiency; Implement biological control to reduce pesticide dependence.
Cotton farmers' rights: Ensure labor safety and reasonable working hours, and provide technical training to cope with climate change and market volatility.
2. Processing
Quality control: Strictly inspect the quality of raw materials and standardize the processing technology to maintain fiber performance.
Social responsibility: optimize the working environment of employees and promote waste recycling (such as cottonseed oil extraction, linter papermaking).
3. Circulation and textile links
Supply chain traceability: Blockchain and other technologies ensure product transparency by recording the origin of cotton.
Environmentally-friendly production: limit the use of harmful chemical additives to ensure the safety and environmental protection of end products.
Certification Process:
• Application and evaluation: Cotton farmers or enterprises submit applications and are reviewed by third-party institutions.
• Develop a plan: Develop a sustainability improvement plan based on the results of the assessment.
• Training & Implementation: BCI provides technical training to support the implementation of the programme.
• Monitoring & Certification: Regularly monitor progress and issue a certification mark upon compliance.

Fourth, the global impact and significance of BCI certification
Since its launch, BCI certification has been implemented in many of the world's major cotton-producing countries, benefiting millions of cotton farmers and bringing far-reaching impacts to:
• Environmental improvement: Reduce the use of pesticides by more than 30%, protecting soil health and water resources.
• Social welfare: 20%-30% increase in income for cotton farmers, and community development projects have strengthened regional cohesion.
• Industry transformation: Promote the transformation of the textile industry to green and low-carbon, and help brand owners enhance market competitiveness and consumer trust.