The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), a non-profit organization focused on sustainable raw materials, has launched a new transparency standard to improve the tracking of sustainable cotton throughout the textile supply chain.

Set to launch in early 2025, the independent verification system will oversee the use and traceability of sustainable cotton certified under Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). The system ensures that yarns, fabrics, and textiles are produced exclusively using CmiA- or RCS-certified cotton.

According to Gerlind Bäz, Senior Project Manager at AbTF, this new standard will enhance the existing tracking system, first introduced in 2018. She explained that while brands and retailers already rely on AbTF’s tracking mechanisms, the new system will introduce independent audits to ensure compliance with transparency requirements.

A key feature of the new standard is risk-based desktop audits, where independent auditors will review tracking data and supporting documents, such as production reports and delivery notes, across all production stages.

Tina Stridde, Managing Director of AbTF, emphasized that the new standard reinforces CmiA and RCS as internationally recognized, trustworthy certifications for sustainable cotton. She highlighted the growing need for brands and companies to provide proof of material origins due to increasing global regulatory and consumer demands.