BCI Grants Eco-Cotton Status To Uzbek Cotton Clusters

The non-profit organization Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has announced the certification of several cotton clusters in Uzbekistan, according to reports from the Uztuqimachiliksanoat press service.

Rachel Beckett, BCI Startup Support Program Manager, visited Uzbekistan to discuss cotton certification with industry representatives and explore BCI’s official presence in the country. The meeting highlighted the increasing interest of foreign clothing brands in Uzbek cotton following the end of the Cotton Campaign boycott. The surge in demand for sustainable textiles underscores the need to expand the production of organic cotton.

Beckett praised Uzbekistan for its abundant cotton resources and comprehensive production cycle coverage, enabling local textile enterprises to trace the cotton “from field to market” seamlessly, a key criterion for BCI certification.

Currently, raw cotton in six clusters adheres to BCI standards under the Sustainable Cotton program of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Farmers and business leaders in these clusters have received training from GIZ and BCI.

By the end of 2022, three cotton-textile clusters are set to receive official recognition as eco-cotton producers, with plans to eventually involve all textile clusters in Uzbekistan in the certification process.

BCI, dedicated to enhancing cotton growing practices sustainably, aims to ensure the well-being of cotton-growing communities while safeguarding and restoring the environment.

Globally, BCI works with approximately 2.4 million farmers across 25 countries, including the USA, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. In 2020, these farmers produced 6.2 million tons of cotton, constituting 23% of the world’s total cotton output.

Leading brands such as H&M, Levi’s, Adidas, and Nike utilize BCI-certified cotton for their textile production.