#Raw Materials

2018-07-18

Registration now open for ICAC’s 77th Plenary Meeting in Côte d’Ivoire

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has opened registration for its 77th Plenary Meeting, scheduled for 2-6 December, 2018, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The conference will be held at the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire under the theme, ‘Cotton Challenges: Smart and Sustainable Solutions’.

The ICAC’s 77th Plenary Meeting:

Will be held in Abidjan, capital of Côte d'Ivoire, 2-6 December, 2018, at the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire
Has ‘Cotton Challenges: Smart and Sustainable Solutions’ as its theme
s expected to draw more than 500 senior government officials, researchers and private-sector professionals from the world’s top cotton-producing and cotton-consuming countries
Is intended to help governments formulate policy that benefits the hundreds of millions of people around the world who depend on cotton for their livelihood
Attendees can register at https://www.eiseverywhere.com/icac.org

Registration Now Open for ICAC’s 77th Plenary Meeting in Cote D’Ivoire

As the only intergovernmental body for the cotton industry, the Plenary Meeting is expected to draw more than 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:

The use of drones and robotics;
Pesticide resistance;
The impact of climate change;
New developments in biotechnology; and
Refuting the cotton myths and misinformation perpetrated in the media.

‘Plenary Meetings are unique because they are specifically designed to help governments gain a better understanding of — and to debate — the most pressing issues facing the cotton industry’, said ICAC Executive Director Kai Hughes. ‘They use that information to develop global initiatives, harmonise procedures and agree on global strategies. The cotton value chain provides an income for millions of families across the globe, and no one is in a better position to improve those people’s lives than their governments’.

The 77th Plenary Meeting will also mark the debut of ICAC’s new app for attendees, which can be downloaded to an iPhone or Android smartphone, or accessed via the Internet. Users will be able to create their own customised programme, view information about sessions and speakers, instantly exchange contact information with other attendees, and more — all at the tap of a button.

To register for ICAC’s 77th Plenary Meeting and download the attendee app, please visit:

https://www.eiseverywhere.com/icac.org

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.