Better Cotton Makes Major Progress In Uzbekistan Programme

Better Cotton, the world’s leading cotton sustainability initiative, has announced major progress in its Uzbekistan programme, highlighting improved due diligence processes and a stronger focus on decent work. In collaboration with its programme partner, GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation), Better Cotton has enhanced its framework to drive deeper impact across the country’s cotton sector.

The updated programme features rigorous in-country verification through capacity building for civil society groups and third-party auditors, alongside a refined due diligence methodology. This includes detailed interviews and financial, ethical and governance checks to provide a clearer risk profile of participating cotton clusters.

Now operating as a certification scheme, Better Cotton assesses new clusters before each season begins. If certification readiness is lacking, audits are deferred. For active licence holders, second-party reviews by Better Cotton staff help identify potential labour issues, prompting further investigation by independent monitoring bodies if needed.

Since August 2024, Better Cotton and GIZ have expanded training to integrate not only sustainable farming but also decent work principles, following recent labour law reforms in Uzbekistan. The training uses a cascading model educating cluster managers, who then pass knowledge to workers and peers.

“The Uzbek cotton sector holds great potential to lead in sustainable production,” said Katerina Gorbunova, Head of Better Cotton Uzbekistan. “We’re committed to transparency, collaboration and long-term change.”

Paul Schumacher of GIZ added, “Sustainable farming, fair trade and decent work must function as one system. Through Better Cotton, we are building that unified approach to drive systemic change.”