The China National Textile and Apparel Council will hold an organic textiles roundtable on September 19. The event will look at the scale of organic textile industry in China and focus on efforts to harmonise Chinese national standards on organic textiles.

With continuous improvement of living standards, Chinese consumers are increasingly inclined to seek pollution-free, pure and natural textile products as well as for skin care and health care. Organic textiles meet this need as well as helping to reduce environmental pollution. China’s organic standards and relevant laws and regulations, although similar to other international standards in framework and content, are more stringent in terms of supervision, management and certification procedures.

There is a continued upward trend in demand for organic textiles in China. China's organic fiber - mainly cotton – comes mostly from the northwesterly Xinjiang region, with an output of approximately 1,570 tons per year, accounting for 50 per cent of the total national output. In terms of global organic cotton consumption, 60 to 70 per cent of the world’s organic cotton is used in China. Factories in Xinjiang are working with international organic organisations on organic cotton projects.