Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Assessor

About the Role

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. As an approved BCI Assessor, [Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk] conducts independent audits against BCI standards, providing formal certification you can confidently share with customers and business partners. This role is crucial for ensuring compliance and promoting sustainable cotton production.

Who we work with:

• Cotton suppliers
• Manufacturers
• Brand owners
• Retailers of cotton goods

Independent assessment process:

• Step 1: Initiation - Signing the proposal. Required documents: Cotton Consumption Submission, all records relating to the cotton fibre consumption calculations.
• Step 2: Reviewing evidence - Review the evidence provided against Better Cotton's requirements.
• Step 3: Assessment call - Conduct a Teams call to discuss the evidence provided. Provide time to correct any non-conformances.
• Step 4: Report - Outcome declaration & Conformity assessment.

Who is affected? [Employer hidden] BCI Audit service, Harvested cotton, Textile factory.

We are an eligible independent assessor and will conduct an independent Better Cotton assessment, which includes reviewing the cotton fibre consumption submission form, all records related to your business’s cotton fibre consumption measurement in an electronic format, and the ‘documented protocol’ of how the records are used to create the cotton fibre consumption measurement. After our assessment is complete, you will have the opportunity to correct any non-conformances and provide the BCI with a signed and completed Outcome Declaration and Conformity Assessment. Our audits will be conducted online and the requirement and frequency of these will be based on your size category.

Why choose [Employer hidden]?

[Employer hidden] is an approved BCI Assessor and an independent third party that has auditors who are experienced in conducting various assessments, including Zero Waste to Landfill certification and waste prevention and diversion reviews. Typically, we complete more than 400 audits per year!

We have also met the requirements set out by BCI.

Complementary Services

• Waste Mapping: Identify waste patterns, reduce costs, and improve recycling with [Employer hidden]’s UK Waste Mapping & Composition Analysis services. Find out more...
• Green Claims Verification: [Employer hidden]’s Green Claims guidance stresses that environmental claims must be clear, accurate, and backed by evidence to avoid misleading consumers. Find out more...
• Zero Waste to Landfill Certification: [Employer hidden] provides an independent zero waste to landfill certification service. Find out more...
• Circular Take Back: [Employer hidden]’s circular take-back service helps businesses collect and recycle difficult materials by managing the whole process. Find out more...

FAQs

Is [Employer hidden] accredited by BCI to provide audit services? We are a BCI-approved assessor, meeting all the experience and qualification requirements outlined by the BCI.

Who needs to complete the Independent Assessment? Unless exempt, Retailer and Brand Members are required to commission an Independent Assessment of their most recent annual cotton fibre consumption measurement every three years.

I am a new BCI member. When will I be required to complete my first Independent Assessment? Independent Assessment requirements apply to new Retail and Brand members starting from their first annual submission deadline, which occurs after completing a full year of membership.

What documentation do I need to supply as a Retail / Brand Member? A completed Better Cotton’s Annual Cotton Consumption Submission Form, all records related to your cotton fibre consumption measurement in an electronic format, and a documented protocol on how records are used.

Will the assessment be conducted online or in person? The assessment is conducted online, and all documents need to be in an electronic format suitable to [Employer hidden].

What are the submission deadlines? The annual submission deadline for submitting the Cotton Fibre Calculation to Better Cotton is 15 January. Better Cotton recommends that the independent assessment is conducted within six months of the annual submission deadline.

What will [Employer hidden] provide us? After the assessment is complete, and any non-conformances have been corrected, [Employer hidden] will provide you with a signed and completed Outcome Declaration and Conformity Assessment which you must then submit to Better Cotton.

What is the timeline for completing a Corrective Action Plan? Retailer and Brand Members with non-conformities (NCs) identified during their Independent Assessment must establish a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) within 30 days.

What happens if we can't address all non-conformities within one year? Retailer and Brand Members unable to resolve all non-conformities within one year will retain their Unsuccessful Outcome. A new Independent Assessment, resulting in a Successful Outcome, must be completed and submitted within that same year.

How long will the Independent Assessment take? The quantity and quality of data, systems, and processes vary among Retailer and Brand Members, impacting the duration of the conformity assessment. Retailer and Brand Members should focus on improving data quality and ensure they have a well-documented internal protocol ready to share with their assessor ahead of the assessment call.

What should be covered by the Cotton Consumption Calculation? The calculation needs to cover the total cotton used by the Retailer and Brand Member, including all brands, product lines, business divisions and cotton sourcing types.

Do I need to conduct an Independent Assessment to make Sourcing Declaration Claims? All membership requirements, including the Independent Assessment, must be completed by all Retailer and Brand Members before making claims in line with the Better Cotton Claims Framework.

Where can I find more information or resources? Visit the *Measuring Cotton Consumption* section of the Better Cotton website or their Independent Assessment FAQ document.

Make an enquiry

To find out more, contact us today.

We have been very happy with [Employer hidden]’s service on our independent assessment of our Better Cotton consumption. They were well aware of their obligations with respect to the assessment and it was easy to understand which documents they needed in order to make the assessment. The assessment was done very fast after we delivered our documentation, and the pricing was competitive. We have been very happy to work with [Employer hidden]. Kentaur A/S

As a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, we are now required to commission an independent assessment of our cotton fibre consumption measurement. We trust [Employer hidden]’s auditing expertise and impartiality – having worked with them on other projects; therefore, sought their assistance. We were delighted with the support we received from [Employer hidden]. They have become a trusted sustainability partner. JD Sports Fashion Plc