#Raw Materials

2023-03-16

Traceability: Connecting the textile value chain

Traceability and transparency initiatives throughout the cotton value chain and within the textile industry gain importance. During the International Cotton Conference Bremen 2022 selected speakers presented their projects with different technological backgrounds and perspectives in this field.

Traceable Uzbek Cotton

Rinat Gulyaev, Director, Cotton Science-Innovation Center, Uzbekistan spoke about the development of an electronic traceability system for cotton products in the Uzbek cotton supply chain. Mr. Gulyaev said that Uzbekistan now processes domestically 100 percent of the cotton grown and 45 percent of the yarn is produced in Uzbekistan. Textile exports were valued at $3.1 billion in 2021, and Uzbekistan hopes to raise production of textiles, knitwear and garments to $15 billion by 2025.

Transparency and traceability were important measures for increasing exports to the European Union and the United States. However, farm-level data on cotton production and ginning, and textile mill data on greige goods production is lacking. He said that it would be possible to provide farm-level data for cotton produced in Uzbekistan using permanent bale identification tags with barcodes or RFID technology.

Therefore, Uzbekistan has embarked on a project in the Bukhara region involving nearly 68,000 farmers and 226,000 hectares of various crops, including 98,000 hectares of cotton, to develop a specialized system of data collection for integration into international traceability systems. The aim of the project is to inform consumers of finished products about the entire production chain, including origin, composition, quality, and compliance with social and environmental standards. A nationwide adoption is planned in one or two years.

Presentation of Mr Rinat Gulyaev on the website of the Bremen Cotton Exchange (pdf)

https://baumwollboerse.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CCB-2022_Gulyaev.pdf

Value Added US Cotton

Ms. Mariam Paris, Head of Americas CE & Mkt, Veg Seeds, Bayer Crop Science, Munich, Germany, spoke about the Fiber Quality Initiative by Deltapine. This is a pilot to showcase traceability and sustainability in U.S. grown Deltapine™ or Deltapine Select™ varieties. Ms. Paris also observed that the importance of fibre origin is rising, and there is greater interest in domestic manufacturing. Therefore, Deltapine has developed a partnership strategy to educate retailers and consumers on the virtues of cotton, to address sustainability, traceability and quality challenges the textile industry faces, and to provide financial benefits to Deltapine growers for helping to solve these challenges.

The Fiber Quality Initiative Pilot Program with medical scrubs made of 100 percent US-grown Deltapine cotton was started in 2020. The scrubs were treated with an antimicrobial technology, PROTX2 AV. Every aspect of the project, from seed breeding to cut and sew, was done in the United States, and participants were registered with the United States Cotton Trust Protocol, ensuring traceability. Scrub sets were donated to staff in 15 hospitals in August 2021, and commercialization efforts were launched with private suppliers of medical equipment.

Distributed Ledger Technologies for the Textile and Clothing Industry

Ms. Gesine Köppe, Project Manager, ITA Academy GmbH, Aachen, Germany spoke about Distributed Ledger Technologies in textile value chains. The complex infrastructure and multiple individual actors pose a challenge for transparency and traceability in the value chain. Most supply chain software requires energy and time to input and manage data. The objective is to ensure supply chain transparency within a global network using Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT).

Ms. Köppe explained that a DLT is a decentralized database that allows participants in a network to share ledgers and maintain read and write access. Blockchain is a well-known technology in which a network is decentralized. Transactions are validated and ledger copies are stored. A blockchain has a redundant structure and ensures immutability and is tamper-proof. The textile value chain can benefit from the use of DLT.

The TexCHAINge Task Force on Digital Supply Chain Management aims to enable German textile and clothing companies to overcome the challenges of structural change through digitization in supply chain management. Participants include evan GmbH, Ernstings Family GmbH, KiK Textilien und Non-Food GmbH, ITA Academy GmbH, Bremer Baumwollbörse, Peek & Cloppenburg, and consider it. Ms. Köppe acknowledge that adoption of blockchain technology is difficult, and ITA Academy has set up a Digital Capability Center to enable potential users to envision the integration of DLT with manufacturing processes.

Presentation of Ms Gesine Köppe on the website of the Bremen Cotton Exchange (pdf)

https://baumwollboerse.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CCB-2022_Koeppe.pdf

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

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.

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.

Kimberly-Clark develops alternative natural fiber platform for hygiene products

Kimberly-Clark has introduced a proprietary innovation program aimed at developing alternative natural fibers for future hygiene products. The company has created a patented materials platform based on fibers derived from hesperaloe, a drought-tolerant succulent native to the southwestern United States.

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.