[pageLogInLogOut]

#Raw Materials

The ICAC releases its 2021 Annual Report

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has released its 2021 Annual Report covering the 2020-21 fiscal year. It is the third edition since the project was initiated for the first time when Executive Director Kai Hughes joined the ICAC in late 2017.

Executive Summary

The 2021 ICAC Annual Report:

  • Provides transparency and accountability, especially in financial areas, and highlights projects, goals and initiatives for the coming year
  • Profiles the ICAC’s Committees, Delegates, Coordinating Agencies and Standing Committee Officers
  • Introduces multiple new editorial elements including the ICAC Value Proposition; Advantages of Hosting a Plenary Meeting; 'Meet the Secretariat' and more
  • Includes the Final Statement from the just-completed, fully virtual 79thPlenary Meeting 


‘We want to ensure that the ICAC is both transparent and accountable for its efforts over the prior 12 months’, Mr. Hughes said. ‘We have a vision for what we want to accomplish over the next few years, but a vision alone isn't enough. This Annual Report provides information to our members about the ICAC’s past performance and future goals and it also reports back on our Strategic Plan — the document that all members of the Secretariat use to guide their efforts over the coming three years’.




The ICAC Annual Report contains a wealth of information, including:

  • A variety of metrics that will serve as a baseline for future performance, including Actual vs Budgeted performance, how money was spent and progress made on social media platforms;
  • Columns from the heads of ICAC Committees that detail their efforts from the past year and offer their vision for the future;
  • The 2020-22 ICAC Communications Plan, which guides both internal and external initiatives and communications,
  • A variety of new editorial elements — the ICAC Value Proposition, Advantages to Hosting a Plenary Meeting, and two 'Meet the Secretariat' entries for the brand-new positions added in 2021, Head of Textiles and Data Scientist.
  • The Final Statement from the 79th Plenary Meeting, which was fully virtual and held from 6-9 December 2021.

A PDF has been posted and you can view it here:

https://www.icac.org/Content/CFCDocument/Pdf3702fe01_bc2f_4055_883a_b200120ac780/2021%20Annual%20Report%20FINAL%20website.pdf


More News from International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)

#Raw Materials

ICAC projects slight decline in production, relative stability for consumption

Global cotton production is projected to decline by 4% in the 2026/27 season to 24.8 million tonnes, while consumption is expected to remain relatively steady at 25.0 million tonnes, according to the March 2026 edition of Cotton This Month.

#Europe

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.

#Natural Fibers

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.

#Natural Fibers

Bangladesh becomes World's largest importer in 2024/25 after China cuts imports by 65% to 1.1 million tonnes

As we prepare to turn the calendar on 2025, world cotton lint production currently is estimated to be about 25.4 million tonnes — roughly the same as the last season — surpassing the world cotton lint consumption by 392,000 tonnes.

More News on Raw Materials

#Raw Materials

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.

#Raw Materials

Lenzing Group positions bio‑based materials as a strategic asset for Europe’s economic security

The Lenzing Group, a leading supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, hosted a high‑level roundtable in Brussels to discuss how bio‑based materials can strengthen Europe’s economic security and support the shift toward a fossil‑free future. Organized in cooperation with Euractiv, the event brought together representatives of the European Commission, the UK Mission to the EU, academia, civil society, and industry.

#Natural Fibers

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.

#Raw Materials

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.

Latest News

#Techtextil 2026

Shima Seiki showcases WHOLEGARMENT® and 3D knitting solutions for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026

Leading textile technology solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will be participating in the Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany next month. On display will be WHOLEGARMENT® and other advanced three-dimensional knitting applications across a wide range of industries besides fashion apparel that are not typically associated with knitting, such as technical textiles using industrial materials and advanced three-dimensional knitting.

#Research & Development

Textilfabrik 7.0 launched: Mönchengladbach becomes a real-world lab for sustainable textile production

With the official kick-off event of the Textilfabrik 7.0 (T7), a major transformation project for the German textile and apparel industry has been launched in the Monforts Quarter in Mönchengladbach. At the “Textile Roundtable,” an event format organized by the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier, representatives from industry, research, politics, and the regional economy came together to jointly lay the foundation for CO₂-neutral, circular, and economically viable textile production in Germany.

#Techtextil 2026

Future ready nonwovens and fiber processing solutions – Meet Trützschler at Techtextil 2026

From April 21 to 24, 2026, the Trützschler Group will present its future‑ready solutions at Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany. At Booth C61 in Hall 12.0, Trützschler Nonwovens will showcase its latest developments for efficient nonwovens production, including comprehensive service and consulting solutions. Highlights include the fully upgraded X‑Series nonwoven cards suitable for spunlace, needle‑punching and air‑through bonding (ATB) processes, as well as the T‑ONE digital working environment enhanced with new features. Trützschler Card Clothing will complement the presentation with a new card wire designed with a specially engineered surface for high‑performance nonwoven applications. Visitors can also take a closer look at Trützschler’s complete solution for the recycling of textile waste, TRUECYCLED.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Europe needs tipping point to scale textile-to-textile recycling, BCG and ReHubs say

A new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and ReHubs, titled “Advancing Textile Circularity – Europe’s textile waste challenge: Scaling Textile-to-Textile requires enabling mechanisms”, highlights the urgent need for systemic action to tackle Europe’s growing textile waste and scale a circular textile economy.

TOP