A New Era in Sustainable Cotton Production: Better Cotton Initiative Principles and Criteria V3.2 Published

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), of which the Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD) is a strategic partner in Turkey, has published the eagerly awaited version 3.2 of its Principles and Criteria (P&C) document, which sets global standards for cotton production.

The Better Cotton Initiative field-level standard, which serves as a guide for millions of farmers and the textile supply chain worldwide, has adopted a more environmentally friendly, resilient and innovative structure with this new update. Version 3.2 of the Principles and Criteria aims to reshape the future of cotton production on the basis of sustainability.

With the updated standard, the regenerative agriculture approach in cotton production has been established within a much stronger framework. This model focuses not only on protecting existing natural resources but also on improving and restoring the agricultural ecosystem.

Version 3.2 prioritises the following key areas to combat the climate crisis and enhance the resilience of production systems:

Soil Health: Increasing the soil’s organic matter content and maintaining productivity. 

Biodiversity: Supporting natural life and ecosystem diversity in agricultural areas. 

Climate Resilience: Strengthening producers’ ability to adapt to changing climate conditions and extreme weather events.

The Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD), which is leading the transformation of sustainable cotton production in Turkey, is playing a key role in the implementation of this new phase. IPUD continues to work in collaboration with producers and provide guidance to ensure the new criteria are effectively implemented in the field.

This strategic update will enhance the prestige of Turkish cotton in the global market whilst contributing to the reduction of negative environmental impacts and making production systems more resilient to climate change.