Better Cotton Initiative

Founded in 2005, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a non-profit organization that aims to define a better and more sustainable way of growing cotton – better for the producers, better for the environment in which the cotton grows, and better for the future of the sector. The objective of the BCI is to change the production of cotton worldwide by making Better Cotton a conventional trading commodity.

To achieve this mission, BCI works with a diverse range of stakeholders across the cotton supply chain to promote measurable and continuing improvements for the environment, farming communities and economies of cotton-producing areas.

In its partnership with BCI, Stadium commits to source 100% sustainable cotton by 2017/2018 by using Better Cotton, Organic cotton and recycled cotton. Better Cotton is not physically traceable to end products, however, BCI Farmers benefit from the demand for Better Cotton in equivalent volumes to those we source.

Female Cotton Farmers
Together with four other companies in the industry, Stadium supports Female Cotton Farmers (FCF), which is a local project in India initiated by Cotton Connect. The project covers 15 villages in the states of Maharashtra and Parbhani in western India, where approximately 1,550 female cotton growers are taught how their farming can lead to a reduced environmental impact, improved health status and a more stable economy. For the duration of the two years of the project, representatives from BCI and Cotton Connect are available on the ground to help with training, organization and information.

Find out more at http://bettercotton.org/about-bci/.