#Raw Materials

2024-09-26

GOTS and OCA call on textile industry to support farmers transitioning to organic cotton

As the global demand for sustainable textiles continues to rise, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) have joined forces to urge industry leaders, businesses and stakeholders to take decisive action in supporting farmers transitioning to organic cotton. GOTS and OCA, as part the #BehindTheSeams, campaign are highlighting the critical need to bolster the supply of organic fibres by supporting growers during the challenging transition from conventional to organic farming, in addition to educating consumers about choosing “organic in-conversion” cotton textiles.

The #BehindTheSeams 2024 campaign, running throughout September, provides unique insights into the people and practices behind sustainable textiles, showcasing the environmental and social benefits of organic-certified fibres.

Bridging the gap: supporting farmers during the in-conversion period

The solution to a growing demand for organic cotton lies in empowering more farmers to grow organic fibres. Switching from conventional to organic farming requires a vital stage known as the “in-conversion” period that can last three years, during which farmers face challenges such as fluctuating crop conditions and market uncertainties. The industry must provide support in this process.

To assist these farmers, OCA provides critical resources such as capacity-building, premium payments and market linkages. During the 2023-2024 cotton season, OCA worked with over 35,000 in-conversion farmers in India and Pakistan as part of a broader programme that supports over 80,000 farmers. This impact has been made possible through the commitments of 16 brands and retailers participating in OCA’s Farm Programme.

A win-win partnership for brands and farmers

Transitioning to organic farming requires significant knowledge and resources, and it`s an experience that no farmer should face alone. Brands that commit to purchasing in-conversion cotton invest in the additional support and inputs farmers require, resulting in certified crops with significant environmental and economic benefits. More brands need to join OCA`s Farm Programme, which addresses existing challenges in organic cotton farming by providing farmers with tools, expertise and market commitments from buyers, ensuring higher earnings and a secure supply of organic fibres.

Join the movement for organic cotton

The #BehindTheSeams campaign calls on brands, retailers and stakeholders across the textile industry to act now by supporting farmers during this critical in-conversion phase. By joining OCA’s Farm Programme, companies can make a tangible impact on the future of organic cotton, securing not only a sustainable supply of organic fibres but also contributing to global sustainability goals. Learn more here about who needs to be certified, the importance of organic fibres in sustainability and the in-conversion process.

https://www.behindtheseams.eco/who-needs-to-be-certified/

Global Standards announce launch of a new textile processing standard

The 14th September 2026 marks the public launch of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS), a new standard for the processing of textiles made from fibres certified to third-party standards recognised by GRTS and covering a broad range of plant, animal, synthetic, man-made cellulosic and recycled fibres.

ALLIED expands down traceability with lot-level carbon footprint data

ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown traceability platform to include validated cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked to individual down lots. The initiative is designed to provide brands and consumers with more detailed environmental information on the materials used in finished products and could also support future data requirements associated with Digital Product Passports.

ICAC’s 84th Plenary Meeting to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt

Registration will soon be open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt. The local Organizing Committee in Egypt has chosen “Building a Resilient and Competitive Future for Cotton and Textiles” as the theme for the event, which will be held at the Rixos Montaza Alexandria Resort.

HeiQ & Archroma and Lenzing & Armedangels win ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has named two industry partnerships as winners of the ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026. The awards go to collaborations between HeiQ and Archroma as well as Lenzing and Armedangels, highlighting joint approaches to innovation and sustainability across different parts of the textile value chain.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.