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#Raw Materials

Better Cotton renews Standard Recognition Agreement in Brazil

Better Cotton has announced the renewal of its standard recognition agreement with ABRAPA, the Brazilian Cotton Growers’ Association.
Cotton flower at Samambaia Farm, GMS Group, Luziania District, Goias, Brazi © 2025 Better Cotton / Carlos Rudiney
Cotton flower at Samambaia Farm, GMS Group, Luziania District, Goias, Brazi © 2025 Better Cotton / Carlos Rudiney

The agreement comes into effect retroactively from October 2024 to October 2025 and will automatically renew for an additional three years should all requirements be met. 

Since 2014, ABRAPA’s Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) Programme has been recognised as equivalent to the Better Cotton Standards System (BCSS), enabling domestic farmers to sell their cotton as ‘Better Cotton’ in national and international markets. 

In the 2023/24 cotton season, the 440 Brazilian farms who were awarded ABR certification produced more than three million metric tonnes of Better Cotton. This means that ABR/Better Cotton-certified cotton represents more than 83% of Brazil’s total cotton production. 

Better Cotton requires Strategic Partners to periodically reassess and, where necessary, realign their standards with the BCSS to maintain standard equivalence. This ensures that both standards evolve to continually support cotton farmers in meeting market demand for more sustainable cotton.?? 

The new standard recognition agreement reflects a continued alignment of the Better Cotton Standards System and the ABR Programme.




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#Raw Materials

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#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.

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#Raw Materials

New U.S. cotton study uses real-world grower data to reveal where fiber impacts occur

Cotton Incorporated has released a critically reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) of U.S. cotton fiber production that examines how cotton’s environmental impacts are measured and where meaningful improvements can be made across the value chain. The new data, grounded in real‑world grower inputs, measures what drives U.S. cotton’s environmental footprint from field to gin.

#Raw Materials

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

#Raw Materials

ICAC launches Carbon Credits Initiative to deliver new income streams to cotton farmers

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has announced a new initiative designed to unlock additional income streams for cotton farmers through participation in carbon credit markets, linking sustainable production practices directly to financial returns.

#Raw Materials

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.

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#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles unveils Trends 2027 alongside new lifestyle zone and product expansion

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#ITM 2026

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#ITM 2026

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

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#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Global size study for brands and retailers to optimize fit and market coverage

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