[pageLogInLogOut]

#Natural Fibers

Better Cotton joins policy hub coalition to contribute to regulatory discussions

Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, has joined the Policy Hub, a Brussels-based coalition, to contribute to key EU policy discussions.
(c) 2025 Better Cotton
(c) 2025 Better Cotton


Launched in 2019, the Policy Hub fosters technical debates on emerging regulations and convenes its network to develop collaborative, consensus-based positions to influence and align on key EU policies such as the Empowering Consumers and Green Claims Directives, the Omnibus proposal, and the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation.

Hélène Bohyn, Policy & Advocacy Manager at Better Cotton, said: “Amidst the current deregulation trend, the Policy Hub is a great vehicle for industry stakeholders to come together to demonstrate and keep the momentum of all the efforts that are being invested in driving the sector towards sustainability.”

As part of the coalition, Better Cotton will offer its perspective on farm-level realities, enhancing the recognition of cotton and the role of standards in supporting the transition of the textile industry towards sustainability and circularity.

Marina Prados Espínola and?Antoine?Demarche, Co-Directors at the Policy Hub, said: “We are delighted to start a new chapter of collaboration with Better Cotton, whose broad expertise in agricultural practices and?on-the-ground farm?realities will strengthen our policy efforts at the European level.”

By adding its voice to this coalition of 40+ members, Better Cotton aims to support the representation of the broader spectrum of the textile supply chain, bringing context-specific realities to the table of EU policy discussions, whilst promoting the environmental and social sustainability attributes of cotton as a natural fibre.

As part of the Policy Hub’s Advisory Group, Better Cotton will work alongside other members such as Textile Exchange, Fashion for Good, the Social and Labor Convergence Program, the Organic Cotton Accelerator and Fair Labor Association.


More News from Better Cotton

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative marks certification anniversary with progress update and accreditation

One year since becoming a certification scheme, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has announced that more than 3,000 supply chain actors have been certified. At farm level, more than 30% of farms and producer units supplying BCI Cotton have received a positive audit outcome.

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative opens enrollment in the US with promising opportunities for producers

Producer enrollment for the US Program of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is open until May 15 for the 2026-2027 season. With over 2,600 members spanning the cotton supply chain and more than 11,000 users of its Better Cotton Platform (BCP) as of 2025, BCI’s standard is implemented in 15 countries and covers one fifth of global cotton production.

#Natural Fibers

Better Cotton Initiative partners with Uzbek government agency to offset certification costs

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has today announced a strategic agreement with Uzbekistan’s Light Industry Agency to increase financial support for cotton farming clusters adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

#Natural Fibers

Better Cotton Initiative surpasses 50% traceable BCI Cotton milestone

Two years since the launch of its traceability solution, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has announced that over 50% of BCI Cotton volumes entering global fashion and textile supply chains are now traceable, deriving from 15 countries.

More News on Natural Fibers

#Spinning

Measure and control the fiber – optimize yarn quality

Producing consistent yarn quality is an everyday challenge – and a very difficult one. Detailed knowledge and understanding of the fiber raw material is absolutely critical to achieving the best possible quality in the yarn. To help spinners, Uster experts have put together guidelines for avoiding yarn irregularity claims, in a special edition of the Uster News Bulletin.

#Raw Materials

Esquel Group adds two new extra-long staple cotton varieties approved

Esquel Group’s Xinjiang Research & Development Center has successfully developed two new Sea Island cotton (Extra-Long-Staple cotton, ELS cotton) varieties named “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42,” which have been officially approved and granted registration numbers. Both varieties have also obtained Plant Variety Rights certificates, marking another significant breakthrough for the Group in cotton breeding and commercial application.

#Raw Materials

Aid by Trade Foundation reaches new milestones in supply chain transparency

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is reaching new milestones as it leads the way towards greater physical traceability for Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) cotton. With around 700 suppliers and producers in a total of 25 countries, the Aid by Trade Foundation has reached a new record number of partners who can trace CmiA cotton from the product back to its origin. This is more than double the previous year’s figure.

#Natural Fibers

Merino wool moves into China’s high-performance sportswear market

China’s leading sportswear brands are beginning to treat Merino wool not as a lifestyle material, but as a performance input as natural fibres move from the margins of sportswear into elite technical applications. That shift is increasingly evident in the material strategies of major domestic groups such as ANTA.

Latest News

#Research & Development

Fabolose: Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech-derived cellulose

Fabulose is an EU funded project coordinated by the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF). Its consortium consists of leading research institutes, biotech innovators, and industry stakeholders who aim to create high-performance, biobased and recyclable leather-like fabrics, using efficient biotech production routes for bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Connecting the ASEAN textile sector: sustainability, trends, and technology take centre stage at this week’s VIATT 2026

Opening this week Thursday, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is set to welcome visitors from ASEAN’s dynamic textile market and beyond. From 26 to 28 February, VIATT 2026 – the fair’s third editions – will reinforce its strategic proposition with an integrated showcase of the three core sectors of the entire textile value chain. Beyond new sourcing opportunities in Apparel Fabrics & Fashion, Home & Contract Textiles, and Technical Textiles & Technologies, the fair will present an expanded fringe programme.

#Software

Coats Digital appoints Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead next phase of cloud and AI-driven innovation

Coats Digital is delighted to announce the appointment of Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead the company’s strategic direction, innovation agenda, and global growth as it accelerates the development of its cloud-native, AI-powered software solutions for the global apparel and footwear supply chain.

#Techtextil 2026

Over 1,500 exhibitors: Techtextil 2026 grows in key future sectors

Techtextil 2026 continues to grow: more than 1,500 exhibitors from 49 countries present their products and innovations in Frankfurt am Main from 21 to 24 April 2026. Over 120 of them are first-time exhibitors. Texprocess is taking place at the same time, remaining stable with around 200 exhibitors – despite challenging market conditions. Together, the two events bring more than 1,700 exhibitors to the Frankfurt exhibition grounds.

TOP