#Raw Materials

2022-07-28

Better Cotton expands Civil Society Membership and welcomes new members in first half of 2022

Better Cotton’s membership network spans the entire cotton sector and beyond, and we work with organisations all the way from farm to fashion. In the first half of 2022, we were delighted to welcome 192 new members from 31 countries to Better Cotton. New members include 44 retailers and brands, 146 suppliers and manufacturers and two civil society organisations.

The latest civil society organisations to join Better Cotton are the Development Agency for Poor and Tribal Awakening (DAPTA), and the Centre for Advanced Research and Development (CARD), both based in India.

"At DAPTA, we provide cotton farmers with technical support and encourage them to use more sustainable farming practices to support not only healthy farmers, but also healthy farming families and environments. Our objective is to enhance farmers’ income and increase the resilience of farming families, which aligns closely with the Better Cotton mission. We look forward to partnering with Better Cotton and working together to improve conditions for cotton farmers in India."

- DAPTA

"We are pleased to become members of Better Cotton as we strive to meet our ambitious goals in supporting cotton farmers and farming communities. In the coming years, we seek to showcase models for better soil, water and pest management, as well as engage farming communities in planning for long-term water sustainability. We also want to achieve a steady and sustainable increase in farmers’ incomes through a package of better practices that are beneficial for farmers and the environment. Through our efforts, we hope to open a window to the international cotton market for smallholder farmers."

- CARD

Joining Better Cotton offers civil society organisations the opportunity to play a decisive role in securing a more sustainable future for global cotton production. Many of our Civil Society Members are also Programme Partners, working directly with farmers and farming communities to build their capacity to adopt more sustainable practices. Together, we work to scale innovations to help transform farming systems and the sector for good.

"Collaboration and joined up action are key to driving change at scale. At Better Cotton, we welcome any civil society organisation serving the common good and with an interest in the cotton sector to join our initiative and contribute to our journey towards sustainable cotton."

- Paula Lum Young Bautil, Director – Membership & Supply Chain, Better Cotton

Other new members who joined Better Cotton in the first half of 2022 include Officeworks, Silentnight, JCPenney, Oliver Bonas, and Macy’s Merchandising Group.

Visit our membership page to learn more about Better Cotton membership, or get in touch with us at membership@bettercotton.org.

https://bettercotton.org/membership/

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

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.