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February 24, 2023 This weekly digest of cotton industry-related articles is aimed to help keep Cotton Incorporated staff informed on relevant topics and issues within the cotton supply chain, and how these are being communicated across media outlets. For discussion about articles, please click here PwC Research Shows Shoppers Seeking In-store Experience (WWD February 16, 2023) When asked about where they shop, in-store topped the list at 43 percent and was followed by using mobile devices at 34 percent, and then by PCs at 23 percent. The report noted that 11 percent of online buyers say they are switching to in-store shopping. And 43 percent of consumers polled said they plan to increase online shopping in the next six months, which is down from 50 percent in PwC’s prior study. Read more How Climate Change is Making Tampons and Lots of Other Stuff More Expensive (New York Times February 18, 2023) When the Agriculture Department finished its calculations last month, the findings were startling: 2022 was a disaster for upland cotton in Texas, the state where the coarse fiber is primarily grown and then sold around the globe in the form of tampons, cloth diapers, gauze pads and other products. Read more to learn about the facts about cotton in tampons Kenneth Hood honored with Oscar Johnston Lifestyle Achievement Award (High Plains Journal February 20, 2023) The late Kenneth Hood, a former National Cotton Council vice president, treasurer, vice chairman and chairman, received the Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022. He was honored at the National Cotton Council’s 2023 annual meeting held recently in Dallas, Texas, with outgoing NCC Chairman Ted Schneider presenting the award to Hood’s daughter, Lou Ann Petro. Learn more about the Cotton Research & Promotion Hall of Fame honorees. American Eagle Outfitters partners with US Cotton Trust Protocol (Just Style February 21, 2023) Trust Protocol membership will support American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) in its continued efforts to provide greater transparency, communication and standardised reporting of its ESG progress. Quality Control for Cotton good for industry, says Aditya Birla Group’s Thomas Varghese (The Economic Times February 23, 2023) The Quality Control Order for mandatory certification of cotton bales is good for the Indian industry as there is a need to improve the quality of cotton exported from the country, according to an Aditya Birla Group official. Marketing sustainably grown U.S. cotton (Farm Progress February 22, 2023) More often, consumers lean toward purchasing sustainably grown and sourced products, and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP) is established to ensure the global demand for U.S. grown cotton. The program launched in 2020 and continues to expand with valuable benefits for farmers aiming to meet the demands of brands, retailers, and consumers. Hohenstein’s New Testing Method Determines Microfibers’ Environmental Impact (Sourcing Journal February 23, 2023) Microfibers - the tiny fibers that break loose from textiles—might be small, but they add up to a significant environmental concern. A University of Plymouth study found that up to 700,000 microfibers can be released in a single 13-pound load of laundry. Wastewater treatment removes most but not all microfibers, and these small fibers enter bodies of water, where they are ingested by marine life and enter the food chain. Read more