Cotton news and archive

World’s largest fashion brands are using tainted cotton, says investigation

Brazil has long been under scrutiny for deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, but new research from Earthsight shows the destruction of the Cerrado biome, a biodiversity hotspot, has largely escaped notice. While efforts to address the Amazon's plight have seen some progress, deforestation rates in the Cerrado are worsening, driven in part by...

Business |EXCLUSIVE Featured

The Aid by Trade Foundation’s cotton conference: from carbon sequestration to regenerative agriculture and technology

At the annual conference of the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) from 11th to 13th March in Mumbai, India, around 100 experts, researchers and specialists from all over the world came together to discuss current challenges and solutions in the field of sustainable cotton and textile production. This year's event focussed on innovative and digital...

Fashion

Swedish researchers created viscose from recycled cotton

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have achieved a breakthrough in textile recycling by developing a technique to produce new viscose from worn-out cotton sheets. Currently, viscose textiles are typically made from forest biomass, and fully recycled viscose is not available. The team's innovative method involves converting complex cotton...

Business |Interview Featured

Aid by Trade Foundation introduces new Regenerative Cotton Standard

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), known for its cotton standards Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and Cotton made in Africa Organic, has expanded its range to include the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). It intends to offer both textile companies and cotton farmers a holistic new approach to responding to the growing challenges in the cotton...

Business

Better Cotton introduces Traceable Better Cotton

The non-profit organisation Better Cotton has launched a new traceability solution for the fashion and textile industry called Traceable Better Cotton, which has been developed over the course of three years. It will provide visibility of the journey of cotton through the supply chain by logging stakeholder input on the Better Cotton platform....

FashionFeatured

Revolutionising cotton production: Australia's climate-positive initiative

Cotton, a staple of global textiles and the fashion industry, bears a significant carbon footprint, emitting 2-4 tons of CO2 per hectare during production. However, a pioneering venture in Australia is poised to offer a climate-positive solution to cotton cultivation, potentially transforming the landscape for international farmers and supply...

Background |LONG READ

From fibre to garment: the technical 'make-up' of your clothing

In this background piece, we tell you all about the 'technical construction' of your garment. From fibre to garment. We start with the final product, your garment, and go back one step at a time. To the fabrics, the yarns and the fibres/raw materials. We also cover finishing processes. Content • Fabrics (+ finishing processes) • Yarns • Fibres...

Business

Better Cotton and Cotton Egypt Association enter strategic partnership

The world’s largest cotton certifier Better Cotton and the Cotton Egypt Association (CEA), responsible for promoting and protecting Egyptian cotton worldwide, have announced a new strategic partnership to expand the Better Cotton programme in Egypt and enhance the sustainability and quality of Egyptian cotton production while ensuring fair...

Business

Better Cotton signs UN’s Sustainability Pledge

Better Cotton, the world's largest cotton certifier, has signed the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Sustainability Pledge ahead of the launch of its own Traceability Solution at the end of 2023, joining a list of 90 others including Inditex, Vivienne Westwood, Retraced and WWF. The Sustainability Pledge is an open-source...

Business

2023 Cotton Ranking: Only nine fashion companies source cotton sustainably

Since 2017, Solidaridad Europe and the Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) publish their annual cotton ranking - a look at the largest cotton users among international apparel brands and retailers and their sourcing practices. The number has grown from 37 companies in 2017 to 82 in 2023. The ranking analyses their public objectives and...

Fashion

Nike, Adidas, Shein, Temu in US probe over forced labour in China

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the United States is currently scrutinising some of the world's largest brands regarding forced labour and origin of their cotton-based products. The committee has sent letters to major fashion and sportswear retailers, including Nike, Adidas, Shein, and Temu, to inquire about...

Business

Better Cotton outlines new impact targets for 2030

Cotton sustainability organisation Better Cotton has outlined four new impact targets as part of its ongoing 2030 Strategy and plans to drive change in key areas of the industry. The four targets focus on soil health, women’s empowerment, pesticides and sustainable livelihoods, with each sitting alongside the initiative’s initial commitment...