BIG W Leads the Way for Cotton Transparency as First Australian Retailer to Adopt Oritain’s Gold Verification

Gemma Lynch, Chief Customer Officer at Oritain

BIG W, one of Australia’s most trusted retailers, is raising the bar for ethical sourcing by becoming the first Australian retail brand to join Oritain’s global Membership Program as Gold Members.

This commitment expands BIG W’s three-year partnership with Oritain and its promise to source and sell sustainable and responsible cotton across its national footprint.

This investment strengthens the retailer’s 2022 Sustainable Cotton Policy, which ensures all cotton is compliant with national and local labour laws and guaranteed to be free from all forms of child or forced labour.

“Responsible sourcing is fundamental to how we operate,” said Andrew Whale, Sustainability Delivery Lead at BIG W. “As the first Australian retailer to join as a Gold Member, we are proud to lead the way in science-based origin verification.”

“This partnership strengthens our ability to independently verify the origin of our cotton, providing customers with greater assurance that our sourcing claims are credible and transparent, and setting a new benchmark for Australian retail.”

Oritain’s proprietary science-based methodology uses market-leading forensic analysis to verify the origin of cotton against a unique ‘Origin Fingerprint’- a chemical signature based on its geographic origin – providing independent, third-party verification for BIG W to stand behind its sustainable sourcing claims. An Oritain Membership connects organisations with a global community of responsible buyers and suppliers who are committed to improving supply chain transparency. Membership provides access to market-leading forensic analysis, independent verification programs and exclusive benefits designed to support buyers and suppliers in building trust across complex supply chains.

“BIG W’s investment in independent, forensic origin verification reflects the leadership we see from organisations driving meaningful change in global supply chains,” said Gemma Lynch, Chief Customer Officer at Oritain. “Their Gold Membership signals a strong intent to build trust, transparency, and accountability across their sourcing practices.”

Through this continued partnership, BIG W reinforces its leadership in responsible sourcing and helps set a new standard for transparency within the Australian retail sector.

About Oritain

Oritain is a global leader in forensic origin verification. Our proprietary methodology verifies origin through multiple analytical techniques – including isotopes, trace elements, and non-traditional isotopes – combined with advanced statistical modelling and a comprehensive global reference database. Our verification programs are trusted by organizations worldwide across industries as diverse as fashion and cotton, coffee, horticulture, meat, dairy, and more. Oritain works with some of the world’s leading brands to help them achieve regulatory compliance, reduce reputational risk, and meet market demand through verifying the provenance of their products. To learn more, visit www.oritain.com.

About BIG W

BIG W is one of Australia’s most loved brands and has been part of families lives for over 40 years. At BIG W, we put our customers at the heart of everything we do across our network of 179 stores nationally. We sell exclusive BIG W brands that are simply great quality at everyday low prices, alongside leading international brands. Our customers can choose everything for their kids, home, themselves, for leisure and for their everyday life.

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