[pageLogInLogOut]

#Raw Materials

A sustainable supply chain, from the ground up: a case study of CCI

Cotton Council International (CCI) is a global non-profit organisation, which promotes US cotton using their COTTON USA™ brand. While they have participated at previous editions of Intertextile, in 2019 they took part in Yarn Expo for the first time. Messe Frankfurt had a chance to sit down with Ms Karin Malmström, Director of CCI China & Northeast Asia, to discuss the benefits of using a sustainable raw material throughout the entire supply chain.

Messe Frankfurt: Thank you for meeting with us, Ms Malmström! Could you tell us more about what Cotton Council International represents?

Ms Karin Malmström: CCI’s main purpose is to promote the US cotton industry to overseas markets – like a matchmaking service. The US cotton industry is really one entity, because it is so strictly governed by the United States Department of Agriculture. We have 18,500 different farmers but only one set of standards for the whole country. This helps to set a benchmark for the best practices in sustainable cotton growth. Any of our farmers can be audited at any time, and if they don’t pass, they can’t sell their cotton, so the quality of US cotton is ensured and completely traceable.

MF: What made you decide to join Yarn Expo Spring this year?

KM: We want to share our sustainability efforts with people, so we are exhibiting at Yarn Expo because it’s the beginning of the supply chain. If you don’t get it right at the beginning, you’ll never get it right at the end. Your finished product is as good as the material you put into it. It’s that simple! We really start from the ground up. We have been working with Field to Market, who are a neutral third party, to measure our sustainability efforts over the last 35 years. Finally the results are out, and the US cotton industry has reduced its water usage by 82% and soil loss by 44%, which is amazing. We have goals to keep reducing environmental impact, and we use technology to achieve this. Some of our farmers use sensors, drones – all the equipment in the tool box.

One exciting thing we’ve just established this year is the US Cotton Trust Protocol, which will be our signature sustainability programme from now on. We’re here to give people a preview – it’s ready to roll out officially next year, in 2020. It’s a stringent system of checks and balances; independently, we can trace and test every single bale. In terms of environmental impact, this system makes sure that every bale of US cotton is traceable, transparent and measurable.

MF: And what kind of response have you had throughout the supply chain?

KM: Our partners are hearing clear messages from their customers. They are demanding traceability. So the beautiful advantage of using traceable cotton is that it’s easier for the brands and retailers to do their due diligence, by starting right from the origin. It also makes sense for business. You can reduce your costs when cotton is contamination-free, because the running is smoother, there’s less breakage; it really makes a difference at every single stage. We have the technical expertise now to help mills upgrade and improve their capabilities. So that’s really exciting now. And of course, at the end of the day, having a higher quality product means you can command a higher premium at retail. Everybody benefits, throughout the whole supply chain.


MF: Could you tell us more about consumers who look out for high-quality materials?

KM: There is more awareness of the environmental damage caused by microfibres. The world is overproducing synthetics, and only a tiny fraction is recycled. The rest ends up in landfill, or is burned, or contributes to plastic pollution in the oceans just through laundry alone. Cotton presents a naturally biodegradable alternative that can be produced with renewable energy.

People are consciously shopping and impulse-buying is declining, depending on demographics. Millennials in particular are really starting to see fast fashion, especially if synthetic, as completely unsustainable. They are becoming more interested in higher quality products that last longer and are more environmentally-friendly – and they are willing to pay more and proudly wear it often, like a statement. It’s the opposite of a trend. It’s a conscious lifestyle choice.

MF: Earlier you described your role as a matchmaker. What do you think is the key to building partnerships, and does exhibiting at Yarn Expo help?

KM: CCI has had very good response both here at Yarn Expo and at Intertextile. We don’t just sit at our booth, we have team members going out to connect with fellow exhibitors and look for potential partners – maybe we can help them to improve their business and upgrade their products. We can also connect with our existing accounts at this fair, because we always have new industry updates to offer.

Building partnerships is really about sharing industry intelligence, and we are a valuable source of information that covers the entire supply chain across the world. We feel very confident about our partnerships in China, because over many years we’ve built great relationships face-to-face. This is key to doing business in China, and you can do that here.

MF: It’s great to see passion for sustainability in the industry. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us!

Yarn Expo overview

Yarn Expo Spring 2019 was held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, PH Value and the China International Fashion Fair (CHIC) from 12 – 14 March 2019, and featured 468 exhibitors and 28,302 trade buyers. The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT.

The next edition of Yarn Expo Autumn will take place from 25 – 27 September 2019, once again at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).


More News from Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

#Home Textiles

Dual record participation, sleep and sustainability in focus as Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles concludes for spring

Spring Edition 2026 concluded on 13 March at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), achieving record highs in both exhibitor and visitor numbers. Nearly 380 exhibitors from six countries and regions connected with more than 28,500 visitors (12% increase[1]) from 83 countries and regions. As well as higher international participation from countries such as Portugal and Uzbekistan, the fair gathered major regional industry clusters from China, showcasing excellent functional products – particularly within the expanding sleep economy – that blend cutting-edge production with evolving consumer demands for stylish, comfortable, and sustainable living solutions. This dynamic mix was vividly showcased across Hall 5.2, cementing the Spring Edition’s role as a noteworthy platform for industry advancement.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Design, innovation and sustainability propel VIATT 2026’s expanding role in ASEAN textile sourcing

At its third edition, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) further reinforced its role as a key sourcing and business platform for ASEAN’s textile industry. The three-day fair welcomed over 17,000 visits from 54 countries and regions, and featured over 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions across 18,000 sqm. The 2026 edition was marked by the introduction of new international pavilions and zones, broadening the fair’s sourcing scope across new geographies and product categories. The fringe programme, headlined by the debut Trend Forum, further distinguished VIATT as the region’s most integrated textile trade platform – uniquely spanning the entire value chain.

#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition opens next week to spotlight smart textiles, sleep trends and sustainable sourcing

The home textiles industry is ready to gather in Shanghai next week as Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition 2026 prepares to open at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from 11 – 13 March. Bringing together more than 360 exhibitors from six countries and regions, the fair will showcase an extensive array of home textiles, including bedding, towelling, carpets, home textile technologies, textile design and more, serving as a forward‑thinking hub where design, sustainability and smart living converge.

#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles returns in August as global sourcing hub and trend barometer for home textiles industry

Following the conclusion of Heimtextil last month, the flagship fair in Messe Frankfurt’s global home and contract textiles portfolio, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition will return 18 – 20 August 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Building on the momentum generated in Frankfurt, the Shanghai fair will reinforce its position as the foremost home and contract textile platform in Asia – successfully bridging the gap between East and West, and connecting global product trends, supply-chain shifts, and buyer demand in one marketplace.

More News on Raw Materials

#Man-Made Fibers

Lenzing commissions 14 MW power‑to‑heat facility, strengthening grid stability and heat management

The Lenzing Group has successfully commissioned a new power‑to‑heat (P2H) facility with an electrical capacity of 14 megawatts. The installation converts renewable electricity directly into process heat, is fully integrated into the existing heat network at the industrial site, and represents a key building block for a fossil‑free heat supply. As project partner, VERBUND was responsible for the energy‑market integration and will operate the facility for balancing energy marketing, enabling it to respond flexibly to short‑term fluctuations in the power grid.

#Raw Materials

Kraig Biocraft reaches next step in production growth

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced that it has produced more than 1.3 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoons in a single month. This is a new world record and shatters the Company’s previous production record by a factor of five. Today marks a pivotal step forward in the transition of spider silk from laboratory innovation to an industrial-scale material platform.

#Raw Materials

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative strengthens regenerative focus in standard update

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has strengthened the regenerative focus of its field-level standard with the launch of a new version of its Principles & Criteria (P&C), which marks the next step in the organisation’s journey to becoming a regenerative standards system.

Latest News

#Denim

Eastman Naia™ debuts at Kingpins Amsterdam, transforming Denim from the inside out

At Kingpins Amsterdam (April 15–16, 2026), Naia™ by Eastman Chemical Company makes its debut, presenting its approach to circularity and comfort in denim at Stand 1, Ground Level (Blue Area). The brand also highlights its growing global ecosystem, connecting mill partners, designers and brands working to expand denim possibilities through fiber innovation.

#Denim

ISKO introduces a new chapter of denim innovation at Kingpins Amsterdam with FW 27/28

At Kingpins Amsterdam, ISKO presents its latest FW27/28 collection, a forward-looking exploration of denim that merges advanced color technologies, innovative fabric engineering, and contemporary finishing techniques. Designed to meet the evolving demands of the industry, the collection reflects ISKO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of authenticity, performance, and responsible innovation, while also embracing a strong lifestyle perspective.

#Techtextil 2026

Asahi Kasei Advance to showcase high-performance non-woven and fibers at Techtextil 2026

Asahi Kasei Advance will present its portfolio of high-performance nonwovens, flame-retardant fabrics, and advanced textile and fiber solutions designed for various industries during its first-ever exhibition at Techtextil 2026. Techtextil is the leading international trade show for technical textiles and nonwovens, taking place from April 21-24, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany. Asahi Kasei Advance will highlight 14 brands, with special focus on four key materials as its debut at the exhibition in Hall 12.1 at booth C35.

#Texprocess 2026

VEIT Group presents product highlights and innovations at Texprocess 2026

At Texprocess 2026 in Frankfurt am Main (April 21–24, Hall 8.0, Stand A18), the VEIT Group presents its latest solutions and product highlights for the industrial production of clothing and the processing of technical textiles. The focus is on efficient technologies for ironing, pressing, fusing, laminating and textile refinishing processes, covering applications from the apparel industry through to technical textiles as well as interior and automotive sectors.

TOP