IZMIR / Turkiye, 20 June 2025: Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme, has announced a major shift to become a regenerative agriculture standard within the next 12 months. The news was shared at the 2025 Better Cotton Conference in Izmir by Eva Benavidez Clayton, the organisation’s Senior Director of Demand and Engagement.
“It is increasingly clear that we need approaches that don’t simply mitigate or reduce harm, but that actively restore the environment,” said Clayton. “Better Cotton will complete the remaining steps to become a regenerative standard.”
What This Means
The transition involves revising the organisation’s Principles & Criteria, boosting the capacities of Programme Partners, and rolling out an outcome-based reporting framework to ensure transparency and accountability. While Better Cotton’s existing standards already cover several regenerative practices, this move will formalise and expand those commitments.
The initiative aims to help cotton farmers globally adopt regenerative techniques such as soil enrichment, biodiversity enhancement, water conservation, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs.
Backed by Data, Built for Farmers
The regenerative pivot builds on Better Cotton’s 2022 roadmap and the success of a 2023 project in Telangana, India, where 7,000 farmers adopted regenerative methods. The first harvest under the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) this March showed lower input costs and higher productivity, indicating the economic viability of such practices.
“This is a natural step,” Clayton added, “and aligns with our mission to elevate not just sustainability, but the economic and social wellbeing of every cotton farmer.”
Industry Applauds the Move
The announcement received praise from sustainability leaders. Peter Bunce, Head of Cotton at Indigo Ag, called it “great progress,” while Muzaffer Turgut Kayhan, President of IPUD, welcomed Better Cotton’s leadership in regenerative agriculture.
The Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS), initiated by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), has served as a benchmark, promoting farm resilience, ecosystem health, and animal welfare in cotton-growing communities.
Over the next year, Better Cotton will partner closely with local organisations to offer tailored support for farmers transitioning to regenerative practices. The focus will remain on scientific rigor, outcome tracking, and on-ground farmer support, marking a significant leap toward a climate-resilient and inclusive cotton economy.
