In a presentation at the Texworld USA exhibition here in New York, CNTAC executive Yan Yan said the industry will continue with its squeeze on environmental transgressions in the textile sector as the country’s exports of textile and clothing now account for 36 per cent of all global trade worth an estimated $2.7 trillion in 2017. These are all part of China’s 13th Five-Year plan which runs from 2016-2020.
Rather than actively encouraging own companies to join and take up global textile apparel initiatives such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition or fully backing the likes of the ZDHC, China has set up its own Textile Sustainable Manufacturing Coalition (TSMC), whose goals include the stewardship of chemicals, water and carbon to 2020, with a new ‘circular’ stewardship goal added. Several textile firms, chemical companies, leather companies, a certification company and one bio-technology enterprise are members of this coalition.
