The Segregation System

CmiA Traceable

CmiA Traceable materials and products have been treated, processed, or produced under the Segregation* chain of custody (CoC) model. This model ensures full, uninterrupted transparency and traceability of cotton verified under Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA), from the CmiA cotton producer all the way to the CmiA-labelled finished product. CmiA Traceable products can therefore be labelled with the “Cotton made in Africa Inside” and the “Cotton made in Africa Organic” logos, as they demonstrate that the requirements of the Segregation CoC model have been successfully and properly implemented during the production.

How is this CoC model implemented in the supply chain?

Under the Segregation CoC model, CmiA cotton and CmiA Traceable materials and products (comber noils, yarns, fabrics, garments) must be segregated at all stages of the supply chain (from cotton producer to retailer/brand). CmiA Traceable yarns, produced under the Segregation CoC model, consist of either CmiA-verified cotton only or CmiA-verified cotton mixed with recycled cotton verified under the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). Blending cotton fibres with non-cotton fibres is also permitted.

PS: Did you know that Segregation is also the underlying system of the Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS), a standard for cotton grown by small-scale farmers using regenerative farming methods?

How does Segregation ensure traceability?

Beyond the segregation and separation of CmiA cotton and further processed input materials, complete documentation is mandatory at each production stage, ensuring traceability and accountability from the CmiA raw material to the CmiA-labelled finished product. CmiA’s digital tracking system SCOT (Sustainable Cotton Tracker)  records each CmiA purchase, sales transaction, and movement of CmiA cotton volumes within the supply chain, delivering end-to-end visibility across all supply chain partners.

Does this also mean that products labelled with the CmiA Inside or the CmiA Organic logo are verified and audited?

To strengthen the integrity of CmiA Traceable products, the Aid by Trade Foundation developed the AbTF Transparency Standard, which introduces an additional layer of third-party verification and supply chain assurance. It includes the following:

• Risk-based desktop audits by independent third parties that assess data flows and documentation across the CmiA Traceable supply chain to verify reliable implementation
• Digital Transaction Documents (DTDs)—auditor-verified, electronic records that trace each retailer’s purchase order back to the cotton’s origin. Any missing step invalidates the traceability, thereby ensuring full supply chain integrity
• Self-assessment questionnaires completed by all CmiA supply chain actors to support internal compliance with segregation, separation, and documentation requirements
• Regular on-site audits at spinning mills to confirm the correct implementation of Segregation and adherence to transparency requirements

This standard ensures that products labelled with the CmiA Inside or CmiA Organic logo are not only traceable but also verified, audited, and transparent from cotton field to retail shop.

How do partners benefit from choosing CmiA Traceable products?

By applying the Segregation CoC model, brands and retailers can offer fully traceable CmiA products and thereby meet rising expectations regarding due diligence, supply chain transparency, and consumer trust.

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* The term “Segregation” replaces the term “Hard Identity Preserved” (HIP) in order to align with the terminology used by internationally recognised chain-of-custody models under ISO 22095 as well as by many ISEAL-aligned sustainability systems. This change serves solely to harmonise terminology; the underlying requirements regarding traceability and material separation remain unchanged.