Textile Exchange

On Tuesday, September 6th, Textile Exchange (TE) released the 2010 Global Market Report on Sustainable Textiles.  This report provides a detailed look at the organic cotton market including trends and innovations, market leaders, and fiber and market projections for the upcoming years. This report also delivers valuable insights into how leading companies define sustainable textiles, the existing and emerging tools that help them measure the relative environmental and social performance of textiles and products, and detailedinformation on the array of environmentally preferred textiles on the market today and the companies who supply them.
 
According to the results of TE surveys and interviews, the Top Ten organic cotton-using brands and retailers globally last year were: H&M (Sweden), C&A (Belgium), Nike, Inc. (Oregon, USA), Inditex (Zara) (Spain), adidas (Germany), Greensource (Washington, USA), Anvil (New York, USA), Target (Minnesota, USA), Disney Consumer Products (California, USA) and Otto Group (Germany).  Several brands and retailers more than doubled their usage of organic cotton alone and plan to do so in 2012 as well. Others with large programs are staying the course. As a result, Textile Exchange projects the global organic cotton market will increase another 20 percent in 2011 to result in an estimated $6.2 billion market in 2011 and $7.4 billion market in 2012. Great news for organic farmers and the environment!
 
2010 was the first year that TE requested data regarding industry use of sustainable fibers including recycled and cellulosic fiber. The two leading fibers in terms of quantity reported by responding companies were recycled polyester and TENCEL®, with all respondents indicating substantial increases in use of those and other sustainable fibers in the upcoming years.
 
Textile Exchange proudly provides the Global Market Report on Sustainable Fibers as a benefit to its members.  Members may access this and all other benefits via their member profile at their convenience.  Non-members may click here to download the Executive Summary for a preview and to purchase the full report.