FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date Posted: February 2, 2026
Washington, DC — The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is proud to announce that it has been included as a member of the European Commission’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB) on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The Commission developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations.
Since PEF will apply to all textile products sold in the EU market, it could have a tremendous impact on demand for cotton and textiles in the world’s largest market.
Only four international organizations have been admitted to the Technical Advisory Board (TAB): ICAC, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Environmental Agency, and the United Nations Environmental Programme.
ICAC Executive Director Eric Trachtenberg and Head of Textiles Kanwar Usman will represent the global cotton and textile industry to support the EU in achieving its circularity goals by providing in-depth information on how cotton and all natural fibers can contribute to this process. ICAC supports Brussel’s goals of moving the European market more toward products that are more durable, repairable, recyclable, and largely free of hazardous substances.
Although the Commission is not obligated to accept its recommendations, TAB members provide advice and expertise to the Commission regarding:
- Technical issues regarding the implementation of EF methods, also in relation to the preparation of EU legislation in the field of product eco-design and sustainable production and consumption;
- Scrutiny of PEF category rules under preparation and analysis of their coherence with EF methods and relevant EU policies;
- New methodological developments that are necessary within the Environmental Footprint context.
_________________________________________________
About the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
Formed in 1939, the ICAC is an association of cotton producing, consuming, trading, and investing countries. It acts as a catalyst for change by helping Member governments maintain a healthy world cotton economy; provides transparency to the world cotton market by serving as a clearinghouse for technical information on cotton production; and serves as a forum for discussing cotton issues of international significance. In addition, Members can take advantage of the ICAC’s global network of cotton researchers, whose expertise covers the supply chain from farm to textile manufacturing, and have free access to its cutting-edge technologies like the voice-based app and virtual reality cotton training program. Committed to ensuring cotton’s continued sustainability, the ICAC is the only intergovernmental commodity body covering cotton that is recognized by the United Nations. For more information, please visit www.icac.org, Twitter or LinkedIn.