Better Cotton Launches Targeted Update To Its Farm-Level Standards
Better Cotton has announced a targeted update to its Principles & Criteria (P&C), a core component of its Standard System, to ensure the framework continues to meet evolving sustainability expectations while remaining practical for farmers and partners globally.
This Partial Substantive Revision, classified as “Regular” under Better Cotton’s Standard-Setting Procedure v2.2 (aligned with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice), focuses on improving clarity and auditability of specific indicators without altering the overall structure, outcomes or implementation requirements of the Standard.
The revision supports Better Cotton’s broader commitment to environmental protection and regenerative agriculture, as reinforced during the 2025 Better Cotton Conference. While the update alone does not represent a full shift to regenerative practices, it lays important groundwork by refining expectations at the farm level.
Used by more than 2.7 million licensed farmers worldwide, the P&C define what it means to grow cotton in a way that benefits farmers, communities and the environment. The current revision process draws from:
- Auditability assessments
- Feedback from sustainability rating bodies
- Lessons from field-level implementation
The revision began in June 2025 and will conclude in March 2026, with version 3.2 expected to be released following Better Cotton Council approval in December 2025.
