The campaign, known locally as “Microplástico é o Fim da Linha”, was introduced to approximately 600 industry delegates gathered at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel on 14 and 15 October.
It was presented by a Brazilian delegation comprising representatives from the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa), the Brazilian Cotton Exporters Association (ANEA) and ApexBrasil.
Cotton Brazil hopes the initiative will draw international attention to the widespread presence of microplastics in daily life and their potential effects on health and the environment.
The “Hanging by a Thread” movement is primarily aimed at members of the Brazilian public and aims to inform public policy, while supporting wider supply-chain efforts to improve access to information, increase transparency, encourage research and innovation.
The campaign also hopes to expand the use of natural fibres where technically appropriate.
Abrapa president Gustavo Piccoli commented: “The goal is not to eliminate synthetic fibres, but to encourage debate and promote more conscious choices.”
Sharing the stage with industry leaders from multiple continents, Brazilian representatives explained that the movement is designed to encourage transparency, support research into fibres, and promote informed public policy around textile production.
The event provided a platform for Cotton Brazil, an alliance of Abrapa, the Brazilian Cotton Exporters Association (ANEA), and ApexBrasil, to advocate for international collaboration on sustainability issues.
Abrapa business and international relations head Fernando Rati added: “It is important to understand how we can move forward with other producing countries, particularly the United States and Australia, through joint initiatives.”
Brazil’s presence at ICA 2026 comes after a year of record cotton lint exports, reaching 3.37 million metric tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year.
This volume represents an increase of approximately 19% over the previous season and reinforces the country’s standing as a major supplier to global markets.
On the eve of the trade event, Cotton Brazil also hosted a luncheon aimed at deepening relationships with international buyers and partners.
The gathering featured discussions on the latest production figures, sustainable farming practices, and the strategic direction of Brazil’s cotton sector.
Two specific panels addressed crop outlooks and initiatives like “Hanging by a Thread.”
ANEA president Dawid Wajs said: “We conveyed a very clear message about how things are evolving in Brazil and how the country seeks to ensure sustainable growth. More than that, we want the entire global textile industry to be able to count on cotton to grow and increase fibre consumption worldwide.”
