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Traceability, myBMP and Better Cotton - keys to the future of Australian cotton
The connection between Better Cotton and the Australian cotton industry began in 2012 when Cotton Australia became a member of Better Cotton. Two years later, it became a Strategic Partner following a formal benchmarking process to align the myBMP Program (Best Management Practices) with the Better Cotton Standard System. Cotton Australia has managed the relationship with Better Cotton on behalf of the industry for over a decade.
Now in 2025, the relationship has reached another level with significant positive implications for the future of quality, sustainable Australian cotton and the world’s leading brands and consumers who are demanding the best.
Cotton Australia is working with Better Cotton and Australia’s cotton merchants to introduce physically traceable Better Cotton from Australia this season and will also be working to drive demand for this cotton with its brand and retail partners all over the world.
Better Cotton has traditionally been traded and traced under a mass balance system. However, due to feedback from brands and upcoming EU legislation that will impact on-product claims, Better Cotton has now established traceability for physical Better Cotton.
Mass balance will also remain available, with both physical and mass balance cotton traced using the existing Better Cotton Platform (BCP).
With demand for traceable cotton growing, this presents an opportunity to expand market access for myBMP-certified cotton by meeting the demand for greater transparency and assurance about its origin.
Some action is needed by Australian growers wanting to participate in trading physical Better Cotton for this season and these details have been provided to myBMP certified growers and those finalising their certification.
The journey to traceability of Australian cotton has been a deliberate and passionate one with Cotton Australia working closely with the Better Cotton team for some time to ensure the process is as simple as possible for growers and our merchants.
Better Cotton traceability is being rolled out globally, with a small number of U.S growers involved last year and Brazil expected to come on line in 2026.
The experience in the U.S. was that the grower cooperatives trading the cotton were very supportive, leading to high levels of uptake and interest from brand and retail customers.
Better Cotton from Australia is also expected to attract a high level of interest, in part due to the excellent work of Cotton to Market, working with brands to educate them on the very high standards of myBMP as a sustainable cotton option, that can now be properly traced.
Cotton Australia continues to work with Better Cotton to make it as simple as possible for growers to participate, while maintaining the integrity and the standards demanded of the process and certification.
Cotton Australia ran a workshop for merchants and a webinar for growers to ensure high levels of participation. These are already resulting in a good level of interest, with most certified growers opting into the program. The latest report shows that 80% of Better Cotton Claims Units generated from Australia were taken up by spinners last season, indicating continuing strong demand that’s ahead of other countries.
Growers who want to be part of the future of Better Cotton and its global trade benefits need to be myBMP certified and Cotton Australia remains committed to assisting growers on that journey.
