LUBBOCK, Texas, Aug. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Textile
Exchange releases its 2020 Organic Cotton Market Report, the only
report of its kind to cover production trends across the global
organic cotton market. The report reveals data collected for the
2018/19 harvest year and shows an increase of 31 percent in organic
cotton production over the previous year, making it the
second-largest harvest on record after 2009/10. In addition to data
per region, the report includes insights from industry
professionals about their current projects, challenges, successes,
goals, and visions for the organic cotton sector, with a particular
focus this year on impacts of, and responses to, the dual threat of
COVID-19 and climate change.
In short, the results show that 222,134 farmers grew 239,787
metric tons of organic cotton in 19 countries on 418,935 hectares.
In addition, 55,833 hectares of cotton-growing land were
in-conversion to organic, helping to meet the increasing
demand.
2018/19 Organic cotton production snapshot:
While this report celebrates growth in global organic cotton
production and the important contributions this makes to the health
of people, the environment, and farming communities around the
world, Textile Exchange is highly conscious of the turmoil the
world is in right now. From the Coronavirus pandemic to reports of
egregious human rights abuses within the textile industry and our
communities – we are not short of reasons to support farming and
processing systems that protect the health of people and the
planet.
La Rhea Pepper, Managing Director
for Textile Exchange and life-long organic cotton farmer, said,
"Organic farming is a way of living in harmony with the land and is
a way to honor life – life in the soil for the farm, for the
family, for the community, and ultimately for the world. In times
like the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded just how connected we
are to each other - we are an ecosystem, and what we do impacts the
whole."
Textile Exchange works to accelerate environmentally sustainable
practices in the textile value chain, which has positive impacts on
climate and goes hand-in-hand with social responsibility
expectations to ensure that the rights of all people are respected.
We applaud the growers and companies that make long-term
investments in and prioritize the transparency of commitments to
their products with globally recognized, credible, third-party
standards. The growth of such standards was also reported alongside
the production increase for 2018/19.
Facilities certified to leading voluntary organic textile standards
saw significant growth. Facilities certified to the Organic Content
Standard (OCS) grew by 48 percent, and the Global Organic Textile
Standard (GOTS) grew by 35 percent.
To create a complete picture of global organic cotton supply,
the 2020 Organic Cotton Market Report shares production data from
all regions known to be growing certified organic cotton around the
world, totaling 19 countries. According to report findings, 97
percent of global organic cotton is produced in seven countries:
India (51 percent), China (17 percent), Kyrgyzstan (10 percent), Turkey (10 percent), Tajikistan (5 percent), Tanzania (2 percent), and the USA (2 percent).
Of the 55,833 hectares of land in-conversion to organic,
India and Pakistan lead the way, followed by
Turkey, Greece, and Tajikistan.
Looking to the future, pre-COVID estimates show that organic
cotton production will grow by a further 10 percent in 2019/20. The
next few months will no-doubt unveil challenges that businesses are
enduring, and it will be no different for cotton farmers as the
unpredictability will impact the next growing cycle. The future
will require increased transparency and sharing of the risks and
rewards as we collectively aspire to "Climate Action" as well as
the other 16 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Communication,
trust, and commitment will be essential.
Textile Exchange is here to support. Contact us at
Materials@TextileExchange.org and join our upcoming webinar on
September 15 that will review key
insights from the report and allow participants to ask
questions.
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About Textile Exchange
Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit that creates leaders in the
sustainable fiber and materials industry. The organization
develops, manages, and promotes a suite of leading industry
standards as well as collects and publishes vital industry data and
insights that enable brands and retailers to measure, manage, and
track their use of preferred fiber and materials.
With a membership that represents leading brands, retailers, and
suppliers, Textile Exchange has, for years, been positively
impacting climate through accelerating the use of preferred fibers
across the global textile industry and is now making it an
imperative goal through its 2030 Strategy: Climate+. Under the
Climate+ strategic direction, Textile Exchange will be the driving
force for urgent climate action with a goal of 35-45% reduced CO2
emissions from textile fiber and material production by 2030.
To learn more about Textile Exchange, visit TextileExchange.org.
Follow us on Twitter at @TextileExchange.
SOURCE Textile Exchange