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Cotton outlook: News. Data. Analysis.

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  In this, our sixth Special Feature celebrating World Cotton Day , we take stock of some of the developments that have occurred in the industry in terms of sustainability during the past 12 months. We examine the vital promotion of all that is good about our natural fibre, while highlighting pressing issues such as climate change, pollution, and cotton’s declining market share in the face of polyester and fast fashion . World Cotton Day, marked annually on October 7th , provides an opportunity for all those involved in cotton to not only celebrate the biodegradable, natural fibre that clothes us and provides key employment across the globe, but also to collaborate on how to shape a future in which the environment, biodiversity, and farmers’ and workers’ livelihoods are protected, and where fewer and fewer oil-based synthetic textiles accumulate at waste sites, shedding microplastics that pollute the earth. This year, founding organisations will gather in Rome to mark the occasion...
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Data, trust, and traceability: how the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is reshaping the cotton supply chain.

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In today’s fashion and textile industries , the demand for transparency is becoming increasingly important. Stakeholders are more invested in supply chains, demanding verifiable proof of sustainable and responsible practices . Leading the way is the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol , the sustainability program for U.S.cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. Through six years of increasing grower enrollment, new global brand and retailer members, and a robust data-driven framework, the program is helping to build a more resilient and responsible cotton supply chain.  The foundation of any agricultural sustainability program lies with its growers. Despite a challenging growing environment in the 2023/2024 crop year, the Trust Protocol achieved its sixth consecutive yearof record growth , with a 14% increase in grower enrollment and an 18% increase in planted acres. So, what is driving this momentum? The benefits for growers are tangible and multifaceted. They rec...
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Beyond the label: cotton traceability from fiber forward.

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  On World Cotton Day , we celebrate not only the “fiber that clothes the world”, but also the people and processes that shape its journey from seed to shelf. Every claim about sustainable cotton, whether organic, regenerative, or lowcarbon, starts with a single question: where did this cotton come from? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always clear. Cotton often changes hands multiple times before it is spun into yarn, woven into fabric, or stitched into a final garment. In many supply chains, growers are abstracted from the process, and their commendable practices at the start of the journey deserve to be carried all the way to the shelf, ensuring every claim is backed by proof and every story stays intact. The only way to achieve this is to start with the fiber and the farmer. Scientific traceability methods such as stable isotope analysis can verify the geographic origin of cotton at the fiber, yarn, and greige fabric stages. By establishing forensic baselines for specific growi...
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Location: Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
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Starting with farmers, let us regenerate our soil and protect our future.

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It has been six years since the first World Cotton Day , which is celebrated every 7 October . The event was not created by clothing brands or fashion enthusiasts. It was brought to life by the World Trade Organisation upon the request of four  African cotton-producing nations – Benin,Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali – to recognise and celebrate their work. World Cotton Day started with farmers. While this is always a special date for the team at the Better Cotton Initiative(BCI) , as we take stock of progress and look to the future, this year feels even more momentous, as it also marks 20 years since the inception of our organisation. In 2005, a WWF-led multistakeholder roundtable met to discuss the future of sustainability in our sector, and the Better Cotton Initiative was born. Fast forward two decades and BCI now manages a global field-level standard, tailoring its programmes to support the needs of specific farming communities across 15 countries, and accounting for nearly a q...
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Location: Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
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Sustainability initiatives: where are we now?

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  This time last year, it was highlighted that the ideas gaining the most traction in cotton sustainability were traceability and regenerative practices. Reflecting on the past 12 months, it appears that those ‘models’ have cemented themselves as cornerstones in the work of many initiatives that look to provide solutions and support projects across the supply chain. Traceability technologies and platforms have proliferated in recent years, likely accelerating in response to requirements laid out in rapidly evolving legislation, most notably in the EU, making the tracking of raw materials from source to final product a must-have, rather than a unique selling point for a modest proportion of goods. While the ability to trace cotton and tell the story of its journey to consumers may present an opportunity to improve awareness and demand, it has been stressed that farmers must not be unfairly burdened with the costs while brands take the credit as the final products are labelled and so...
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Location: Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
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Almost 70% of clothing is made from plastic.

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 The EU prepares to implement its Digital Product Passport, tighten green claims regulations, and finalise labelling rules, the stakes remain high. Without decisive improvements, cotton risks being locked into a system that undervalues its benefits -and the world risks doubling down on fossil fuel-based textiles .  Why we must build on this momentum? The campaign has achieved a great deal, but the work is far from done. For cotton , advocating for a fair and credible PEF, is not just a technical detail - it is a defining issue for market access and consumer perception. Labels influence purchasing decisions, and regulations shape Cotton supply chains . If environmental scoring systems remain flawed, they could accelerate the trend toward synthetics at a time when the fashion industry urgently needs renewable,circular, and biodegradable fibres.  A call to action  As we celebrate World Cotton Day 2025 under the banner of “ Cotton for Good ”, we must remember that goo...
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High-level discussions and interactive segments designed to inspire action and showcase innovation.

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World Cotton Day was always intended to be a celebration … a chance to recognize the positive impacts cotton provides to peopleand planet — and everyone in the world can (and should) take part in it. This year, the original partner organizations will gather at FAO headquarters in Rome , under the theme “ The Fabric of Our Lives. ” Jointly organized by the Republic of Chad, FAO, and ITC, this year’s celebration will shine a spotlighton cotton’s essential role in livelihoods,economic growth, and sustainabledevelopment .  The event will explore the opportunities and challenges facing thesector, from global trade dynamics to theurgent need for inclusivity, innovation, andenvironmental stewardship . The program will feature high-level discussions and interactive segments designed to inspire action and showcaseinnovation . Voices of the Next Generation: Transforming Cotton into Design will present fresh perspectives from young designers, students, and entrepreneurs, highlighting th...
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Location: Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
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