Organic opportunities

摘要

According to the latest Organic Cotton Market Report, an annual study conducted by the US-based sustainable textile organisation the Textile Exchange, the global organic cotton market is growing again. Following three consecutive years of decline, production was up 10% in the 12 months from 2012/13 to 2013/14. Textile Exchange estimates even stronger growth, at around 15-20%, for 2014/15, based on in-conversion data and fanner forecasts. It said that the turnaround can be attributed to increased market demand and improved connections between organic cotton farmers and the textile supply chain. It said that much of the increase in demand for organic cotton is being driven by brands keen to offer consumers more garments that are produced from organic fibre, with La Rhea Pepper, executive director for Textile Exchange, commenting: "One of the biggest shifts we've seen this year is that big brands are making their sustainability strategy public and setting ambitious targets for organic - so consumers understand how their clothing fibres are grown and their clothes are made. We expect to see more of this through 2015 and beyond."