What is Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™)?
In 2021, we along with our factory partners, started working with our organic cotton co-op partner to transition more than 700 farmers to regenerative organic cotton. In February 2022, over 3500 acres of land were successfully transitioned to Regenerative Organic Certified®, making it one of the largest ROC projects in cotton globally.
Gallant went on this journey to spark a transformation in how organic cotton is farmed across the subcontinent, and bring more scrutiny to a supply chain that’s growing in demand annually yet lacking in true transparency.
Currently, we are offering woven shirts, knitwear, bags, and accessories made with ROC cotton.
Regenerative Organic Certified® is a revolutionary new certification spearheaded by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, a California-based non-profit founded by Patagonia, Dr. Bronner's, and the Rodale Institute. The certification program requires farming communities to meet a variety of criteria that prioritize soil health, animal welfare, and the social well-being of farmers and farm workers.
Regenerative practices on the farm include: intercropping, encouraging biodiversity, using organic inputs (ideally from within the farm’s ecosystem), little or no tilling, and crop rotation to keep soils covered year-round. In addition, the farming systems are certified to be fair-trade. Following these practices leads to the increase of organic matter in the soil and improves overall soil health while providing fair and just working conditions for farmers and workers.
The Regenerative Organic Certification entails three pillars:
Each pillar calls for a different quantity and range of organic and regenerative methods. To keep the accreditation, farms and businesses must upgrade their levels (from bronze to silver to gold) over time. The ROC™ assures that products have adhered to stricter criteria than normal USDA organic requirements in terms of soil health, animal welfare, and fairness to farm workers.
For more information, visit Regenerative Organic Certified® 101