#Raw Materials

2024-11-01

Cotton made in Africa supports the development of West African textile production in Benin

The West African country of Benin is well on its way to establishing itself as a new procurement and production hub for textiles and clothing; these efforts include having locally produced cotton made into textiles for the global market. The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is supporting this development through Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), one of its sustainability standards, which not only provides a sustainable and local basis for textile production but also facilitates access to international markets. Recently, a delegation of AbTF visited the CmiA project country of Benin for a first-hand look at the progress being made.

CmiA Organic Cotton flower Credit M. Diarassouba für AbTF © 2024

A major step forwards in the development of an independent and sustainable textile industry in Benin is marked by the recent construction of a textile production centre south of Cotonou. According to the textile park, 100 percent of the cotton used is verified by Cotton made in Africa; this underlines the sustainability standard’s position in the region. “African textile production is gaining momentum, and Cotton made in Africa makes a major contribution to ensuring that sustainability plays a key role,” explains Gerlind Baz, a senior project manager at the Aid by Trade Foundation, during a visit to Benin, adding, “We are very pleased to support the development of a West African textile production sector here in Benin and to thereby further promote market access for sustainably produced cotton from Africa.”

Cotton made in Africa is a key player in sustainable cotton production in the region and an important partner for the global textile trade. Thirty percent of cotton production across Africa is verified under Cotton made in Africa. The standard is active in eleven countries south of the Sahara, working with 20 cotton companies and around 900,000 small-scale farmers. In Benin, cotton has been grown in accordance with the CmiA standard since the initiative was founded in 2005. Together with three cotton companies in Benin, AbTF is working through its CmiA and CmiA Organic standards to improve market access for cotton producers and to make people more resilient to the effects of climate change while protecting the environment and biodiversity. Worldwide, the standard has more than 2,700 partners in the textile chain.

On the occasion of World Cotton Day in early October, a delegation of AbTF representatives visited the CmiA project country of Benin together with partners from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and PAN UK (Pesticide Action Network, United Kingdom). In addition to World Cotton Day events, the programme included a visit to the textile park and to areas where CmiA Organic cotton is grown. In the Aklampa area, the project group met cotton farmers who grow cotton in accordance with the CmiA Organic standard and who are part of the Growing Benin’s Organic Cotton Sector project. The project’s aim is to improve the living conditions of small-scale farmers by supporting them in the transition to the cultivation of organic cotton in compliance with the CmiA Organic standard. Around 45,500 adults and children are expected to benefit indirectly from the project. By expanding market access through CmiA, the project plans to secure long-term investments in the organic cotton sector in Benin. The project is being co-ordinated by PAN UK, implemented under the leadership of the non-governmental organisation OBEPAB (Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l’Agriculture Biologique), and supported both financially and substantially by AbTF and the cotton trading company Paul Reinhart AG; it is also supported by GIZ as part of its Sub-Saharan Cotton Initiative, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Read more about the textile parc here:

https://gdiz-benin.com/fr/parc-textile/

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

International Women’s Day: Cotton made in Africa strengthens equality for women through targeted investments

On the occasion of International Women’s Day—which will be observed on 8 March under the motto “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”—the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), which is responsible for Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA), underlines its long-standing and ongoing commitment to the equality of women in African cotton production areas.

Human Rights Day: Cotton made in Africa reinforces its commitment to ensuring respect for human rights in cotton production

The sustainable cotton standard Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) has always focussed on respect for human rights, including by prohibiting child labour and discrimination. With the new version of the CmiA standard coming into force, AbTF raises requirements for due diligence in the areas of human rights and risk management.

Cotton made in Africa launches public consultation for standard revision

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is opening public consultation on its Cotton made in Africa standard today. Interested parties will have 60 days to provide feedback, helping shape the future of one of the world’s largest standards for sustainable cotton. The latest update to the standard, Version 5.0, focusses on increasing Cotton made in Africa’s effectiveness and adapting its criteria and indicators to external factors, which currently include biodiversity loss and a growing set of reporting requirements for companies.

Dr N Vigneshwaran is named 2026 ICAC Researcher of the Year

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr N Vigneshwaran, Principal Scientist and Head of the Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division at the ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, India, as the ICAC Researcher of the Year 2026.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

ITM 2026 makes happy participants with its international and qualified visitor profile

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious meeting points of the textile machinery sector, attracted attention in its first three days, particularly with its diverse international visitor numbers. Industry professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to closely examine the latest technology machines and solutions displayed in operation. Thousands of visitors from approximately 100 countries, primarily Egypt, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, met at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center for new investment and cooperation opportunities.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.