#Raw Materials

2020-03-05

Egypt’s Prime Minister to inaugurate WCRC-7

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Kemal Madbouly will inaugurate the seventh World Cotton Research Conference (WCRC) in Sharm-el-Sheikh in the presence of some of Egypt’s most prominent politicians and academicians. Egypt Air offers flight discounts.

Will have many VIPs in attendance, including Mostafa Kemal Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister

Announced its first major sponsorship: discounted flights on Egypt Air

Is held every four years — this is the seventh event since it launched in 1994

Is coordinated by the ICAC under the auspices of the International Cotton Researchers Association

Provides a showcase for scientists and researchers to display their work for the public and private sectors

In addition to the Honourable Prime Minister, Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Tareq Qabil, and Minister of Public Business Sector, Hisham Tawfik, will be at the event, which will be held from 3-7 October 2020 and is expected to draw more than 400 people.

That is not all of the good news for attendees, however: They will also have the opportunity to fly to and from Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt Air, the event’s first major sponsor, at a 20% discount. The offer applies to all classes of travel; please contact Dr Mohamed Negm (prof.negmmohamed@yahoo.com) for more information.

‘The fact that multiple high-level government officials already have announced that they will be in attendance highlights just how important cotton is to Egypt’s economy and culture’, said Dr Mohamed Negm, Head of the National Organising Committee. ‘That is further confirmed by the outstanding support the WCRC is getting from the country’s national airline, Egypt Air. It’s clear that this is a must-attend event for cotton professionals, especially with the discounted airfares reducing travel costs’.

To learn more and register for WCRC-7, please visit

https://www.wcrc7.com/

ICAC to support European Commission on pending PEF legislation

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is proud to announce that it has been included as a member of the European Commission’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB) on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The Commission developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations.

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

The Government of Uzbekistan has allocated 55,000 hectares of land to implement a regenerative agriculture program for cotton as part of a collaborative project with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Bizpando, a company with a a blockchain-based internet platform designed to ensure supply chain compliance.

ICAC announces postponement of the 83rd Plenary Meeting in Tanzania

Due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the recent developments in Tanzania, the ICAC has announced that its upcoming 83rd Plenary Meeting has been postponed. Scheduled for Nov. 17-20 in Mwanza, the delay was recommended by Tanzania, and the decision was made out of an abundance of caution, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all participants.

Lenzing AG to become majority owner of TreeToTextile AB and accelerates industrialization of new fibers

The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB. This step strengthens Lenzing’s position as a leading provider of sustainable, wood‑based specialty fibers and expands its innovation pipeline with a highly scalable, patent‑protected technology platform. The transaction is executed through the issuance of new shares.

Cotton Incorporated appoints Bev Sylvester as Chief Marketing Officer

Cotton Incorporated announces the appointment of Bev Sylvester as chief marketing officer. In this newly created role, Sylvester will oversee Cotton Incorporated’s marketing strategy, brand positioning, consumer engagement and global outreach to increase demand for cotton and strengthen its relevance in the marketplace.

OEKO-TEX® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

“Action helps us change what we do!”

DAY 0 takes place deliberately before PERFORMANCE DAYS begins. It is conceived as a space for reflection, dialogue and active engagement — a moment to pause before the fair, rethink established systems and address sustainability not as a trend, but as a fundamental transformation challenge. Under the guiding metaphor “Turn the Tap Off”, DAY 0 focuses on root causes rather than symptoms, systemic change rather than isolated solutions, and collective responsibility rather than individual silos.

Pets in fashion: functional and sustainable textiles find new market at Intertextile Apparel

China’s pet economy is booming, especially amongst younger generations, and pet apparel – from designer outfits to functional garments – was a RMB 3.5 billion (over USD 500 million) market in 2024, growing more than 20% annually¹. To help exhibitors harness this trend, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will launch the Pet Boutique, presenting a range of innovative, sustainable materials that prioritise both functionality and comfort for pets.

VAUDE eliminates PFAS from all products

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now detectable worldwide – in drinking water, soil and the human body. These so-called “forever chemicals” are considered hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic, as they do not break down and remain in the environment permanently. Despite these risks, PFAS are still used in a wide range of products. More than 15 years ago, VAUDE made a strategic decision to gradually eliminate PFAS from all product categories.