Planet Textiles, which recently came to a close, had a resounding message—only if the new environmental regulations are properly enforced, they can have a positive impact on the Chinese textile sector.

Speakers from the ZHDC Group, VF Corp, Adidas, bluesign, and IPE China spoke at the event. Some used the conference to unveil a new report, which measures apparel brands’ performance in managing the environmental impacts of factories in their supply chains in China.

John Mowbray Ecotextile News editor, while introducing the event said that the Chinese government was now taking environmental regulations in its textile sector more seriously and tough new regulations have come into force earlier this year. Mowbray though feels that the bigger issue is overall, and not just China, how can the authorities effectively enforce the new regulations across the whole industry.

Planet Textiles was the first textile sustainability conference that was hosted in China; the first show took place there in 2009. Mowbray, while explaining the move to China said that attending and organising sustainability events in Europe, there was always a void left at the conferences, though they were excellent. The Chinese textile manufacturing community where most of the textiles are made was the missing factor, he said. Mowbray believes that the event in China has definitely led the way and helped to move the conversation forward in China.

www.planet-textiles.com