Navigating the policy world is as challenging as it is exciting. In 2025, we focused on influencing key policy decisions, building partnerships, and keeping organic a force for positive change. Accelerating organic cotton production, supporting farmer livelihoods, driving environmental and social impact, and convening our industry remain central to OCA’s mission and continue to guide our public affairs work.
In 2026, our focus is clear: build on last year’s progress by connecting policymakers with farmers’ realities, translating field-based expertise into actionable policy recommendations and maintaining high ambition for sustainability in public policy.
Here are our Public Affairs priorities for the year ahead:
Collaboration
Since starting our Public affairs work two years ago, OCA has worked closely with partners to position organic cotton clearly and firmly in EU policy spaces. By sharing our expertise and joining collective advocacy efforts, we have laid the groundwork for stronger, more coordinated action across the sector. We began the year this year by co-hosting a side session at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector, focused on due diligence at the farm level, together with the Better Cotton Initiative. The session focused on an often-overlooked dimension of due diligence: implementation at farm level. Strengthening collaboration across initiatives and organisations will remain essential as policy expectations grow and implementation challenges become more complex.
Expanding focus in production countries
While policy developments in consumption markets remain important, change also requires stronger engagement in cotton production countries.
In 2026, OCA is deepening its policy engagement in key cotton-producing regions, with India and Pakistan as important areas of focus. Our work centres on building relationships, understanding national policy priorities, and identifying opportunities to strengthen the enabling environment for organic cotton. At the same time, we are exploring new policy pathways to support market uptake, including advancing the role of organic cotton in public procurement.
Moving towards implementation
Many EU policy initiatives are now moving into implementation, from environmental footprinting methodologies to Eco-design requirements and new anti-greenwashing rules. As expectations shift, reliable data and practical insights from the field are more important than ever. OCA plays a critical role in ensuring that real-world impact data informs policy decisions. This includes contributing to discussions on environmental footprinting methodologies and supporting alignment amid the growing number of measurement approaches.
At the same time, as new rules on environmental claims enter into force, we are continuously reviewing and updating our guidance to ensure that communications about organic cotton are accurate, credible, and grounded in evidence.
Looking forward
The transition to a more sustainable textile system will not happen through policy alone, it requires collaboration, shared learning, and sustained commitment.
In 2026, OCA will continue working closely with our network to ensure that organic cotton remains a credible, scalable solution within evolving policy frameworks. By bringing field experience into policy conversations, we aim to help shape decisions that work for both the planet and the people who grow our cotton.
