#Raw Materials

2021-03-10

Transparency and the spectrum of corporate responsibility

The countdown is on. On 17 March, the starting gun will be fired for the first digital International Cotton Conference in the almost 150-year history of the Bremen Cotton Exchange. According to current registration numbers, approximately 400 - 500 participants from 25 countries in the internationally networked cotton and textile supply chain are expected. During the two-day event on 17 and 18 March, visitors to the virtual conference can expect a state-of-the-art programme, coupled with explosive discussion panels and a wide range of opportunities for interaction and dialogue.

Transparency for production processes and corporate due diligence, as well as observing human rights in production and procurement are currently taking up a lot of space in public and political discussion. Three lectures, each addressing the topic from a different perspective, provide a contribution to forming an opinion.

Politicians Insist on Corporate Due Diligence

On 3 March 2021, the federal cabinet of Germany approved the draft for a due diligence law (also known as the “supply chain law”). After intensive discussions, the German Bundestag is now discussing a law which codifies corporate due diligence on the basis of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This ambitious law is intended to oblige large companies to observe human rights along their supply chains. The German federal government is also preparing support measures for the economy, which should make it easier for companies to implement their legal obligations.

Anosha Wahidi will present these measures and the key points of the German law in her lecture. She is Head of Division, responsible for fundamental questions of sustainability in global supply chains, and Commissioner for Sustainability Standards at the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Way of the Economy: Saving Time Through Efficient Data Exchange

From the point of view of business, data exchange within fragmented supply chains entails a considerable expenditure of time and money in terms of the required transparency. Ultimately, the work required significantly slows down processes and lead times in procurement, production and administration, which is also expensive. Andreas R. Schneider looks at this aspect of transparency and obstacles in compliance with duties of care, which are associated with a high level of bureaucratic effort. He is CEO of Global Textile Scheme GmbH based in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Co-partnering the presentation by Andreas Schneider is Klaus Baader, Head of Supply Chain Management Europe, at Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel in Weinheim, Germany. As a pre-supplier, the company is a specialist for technical textiles in sectors such as clothing, automotive and building materials. Freudenberg has 35 production sites in 15 countries.

Creating Transparency – The International Perspective

Andrew Olah, Managing Partner of Olah Inc. New York, USA, uses his experience to draw attention to transparent processes in the highly collaborative world of jeanswear and denim production. Founded in 1959 as a family business and textile agency in Canada, his company has developed into an internationally operating procurement, consulting and event agency. In 2004, Andrew Olah established the ‘Kingpins Show’ in New York, Amsterdam and Hong Kong, a unique meeting place for the global denim and jeanswear community. With ‘Kingpins Transformers’, a movement was created parallel to this which aims to make the denim community more environmentally friendly, social, transparent, and economically stable through intensive dialogue between all stages involved in the production of jeanswear. Transformers does away with myths and fairy tales about textile and cotton production and contributes to objectivity in its ‘Truth’ series, broadcast on social media.

Klaus Baader © Freudenberg Performance Apparel

We will continue to report on the other contents of the cotton conference and the supporting programme in future press releases. The current conference news and programme details can also be found on the conference website: https://cotton-conference-bremen.de/program/.

Andreas R. Schneider © Global Textile Scheme

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.

Beyond Cotton: Natural Fibres in the Spotlight at the Bremen Cotton Conference - Branded by DNFI

Climate targets, fragile supply chains, and rising regulatory requirements are fundamentally changing the perspective of the textile industry - the focus is increasingly shifting toward the base material. Not only cotton, but natural fibres are gaining significant importance: they stand out not only because of their outstanding functional properties, but also because they make a valuable contribution to the bioeconomy and responsible product development.

AMSilk and Ajinomoto Foods Europe expand partnership to enable industrial-scale production of silk proteins

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk”), a global leader leader in biotech produced silk materials, today announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Ajinomoto Foods Europe (AFE), marking a key step in scaling the industrial production of its silk proteins. Building on the collaboration first established in 2023, the two companies have now entered into a long-term manufacturing and supply agreement, enabling the transition from industrial validation to dedicated, large-scale production.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.

C&S strengthens its governance to support its evolution

C&S announces the appointment of Marco Lucietti to its Board of Directors. With extensive international experience across the textile and denim industries, Lucietti will work alongside CEO Federico Corneli, contributing to the company’s managerial development, organizational structure and long-term strategic direction.