#Raw Materials

2023-08-31

Registration is now open for the ICAC's 81st Plenary Meeting, 2-5 December 2023 in Mumbai

Registration is now open for the ICAC's 81st Plenary Meeting, which will be held 2-5 December 2023 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. After the conference — which has the theme, 'Cotton Value Chain: Local Innovations for Global Prosperity' — attendees are invited to participate in a two-day technical tour of India's cotton and textile industry.

The ICAC is the only intergovernmental body for the cotton industry recognised by the United Nations, and the 81st Plenary Meeting is expected to draw about 500 senior government officials, researchers, and private-sector professionals from all sectors of the global cotton and textile value chains.

Expert speakers will share their insights on the industry’s greatest challenges and opportunities, including:

• Technologies to increase production;

• Private sector recommendations for traceability policy;

• Facilitating R&D investment;

• Climate-smart production innovations;

• Industry 4.0 for Textiles, and much more.

‘Plenary Meetings are unique because they are specifically designed to help governments and other partners gain a better understanding of — and to debate — the most pressing issues facing the cotton and textile industry’, said ICAC Executive Director Eric Trachtenberg. ‘They use that information to develop global initiatives to support cotton value chains, address outstanding issues, and agree on global strategies to advance the interests of all our stakeholders. In addition, by giving a voice to the private sector during the event, we are helping Member governments align their policies with the needs of the business community to create a stronger and more vibrant cotton and textile sector'.

To register for ICAC’s 81st Plenary Meeting, please click here.

https://icac.regfox.com/81st-plenary-meeting-of-the-international-cotton-advisory-committee

To view the full agenda, click here.

https://icac.org/Meetings/Details?eventId=1229

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.

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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.

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.

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.

Yarn Expo Spring 2026 concludes, connecting buyers with innovative selection of sustainable yarns and fibres

Yarn Expo Spring 2026 wrapped up successfully on 13 March, as a record-high of over 600 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions welcomed more than 25,000 visitors from 113 countries and regions. Held across 27,000 sqm in Hall 8.2 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the fair highlighted the textile industry’s accelerating shift toward a lower-impact, more functional future. Exhibitors presented eco-friendly organic, regenerated and recycled yarns and fibres, alongside innovative options such as sweat-resistant and high-performance materials. A comprehensive fringe programme further enriched the event, offering practical market insights and new networking opportunities.

ANDRITZ at Techtextil 2026: Sustainability and advanced technologies

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, from April 21 to 24, 2026 (Hall 12, B95). ANDRITZ will focus on technologies for durable and technical nonwovens, sustainable fiber processes, textile recycling, and life-cycle services.

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.