Public Stakeholder Consultation: REEL Chain of Custody Standard
Note: The consultation is open until May 02, 2026
CottonConnect is pleased to present Version 1.0 (Stakeholder Review Draft) of the REEL Chain of Custody Standard.
This Standard has been developed to provide a robust, credible, and transparent framework for maintaining the integrity of REEL-certified cotton beyond the farm and ginning stages, through to finished textile products. It establishes clear, enforceable requirements for traceability, volume control, transaction documentation, claims management, and independent verification.
The primary objective of this Standard is to ensure that any claim relating to REEL-certified cotton is accurate, substantiated, and verifiable, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the REEL system and maintaining confidence among supply chain partners, brands, and stakeholders.
At the same time, CottonConnect recognises the operational and financial realities of global textile supply chains. The Standard has therefore been intentionally designed to deliver cost-efficient and proportionate verification solutions, without compromising integrity. This is achieved through:
Conditional recognition of approved external chain of custody certifications, reducing duplication of audit activities where equivalency can be demonstrated;
A risk-based assurance model, allowing verification intensity to be aligned with risk profile and compliance history;
The use of approved digital traceability systems, enabling secure system-generated transaction documentation in place of manual certificate issuance where appropriate; and
Clear provisions for trader exemptions, where no physical handling or change of certified status occurs.
The result is a system that combines strong governance and technical clarity with operational flexibility and efficiency.
Stakeholder input is essential to ensure that the REEL Chain of Custody Standard remains credible, practical, and globally applicable.
Your insights are invaluable in shaping these standards to ensure they effectively promote sustainability and regenerative practices in cotton production.
We invite you to review the latest version of the standards document and provide your feedback by May 02, 2026
Download the document here: REEL Chain of Custody Standard
You can share your feedback using the below format and send us to reel.secretariat@cottonconnect.org
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