Green And Environmental Protection: The First Carbon Footprint Standard Of Cotton Industry Was Released

On December 10, the fifth member congress of China Cotton Association was held in Beijing, during which the group standard of Product Carbon Footprint Product Category Rules Lint (T/COTCHN004-2024) was officially released, which is the first product carbon footprint standard in the cotton industry.

This standard is an important part of China's sustainable cotton standard system promoted by the China Cotton Association, aiming to encourage producers to adopt more scientific and environmentally friendly planting technology and management measures, optimize production processes, and reduce resource consumption and emissions; At the same time, through the carbon footprint assessment, the low-carbon and environmental protection characteristics of natural fibers will be demonstrated, and the added value of products and market competitiveness will be improved.

Wang Jianhong, president of the China Cotton Association, said that in recent years, China's cotton industry has adhered to the innovation driven development strategy, constantly optimized the industrial structure, improved its scientific and technological support capacity, and started to shift from focusing on quantity growth to improving quality and efficiency. With the adjustment and change of the international division of labor system, the textile industry and its upstream and downstream industries are facing greater pressure on environmental protection, compliance and green transformation. As an important raw material of textile, the cotton industry urgently needs to accelerate the transformation, and transmit the value required by the downstream while delivering products.

Wang Jianhong introduced that in 2021, the China Cotton Association, together with the China Textile Import and Export Chamber of Commerce, the China Cotton Textile Industry Association, the China Household Textile Industry Association, and the China Garment Association, jointly launched the "China Cotton Sustainable Development Project" (CCSD for short in English), advocating the sustainable concept of "environmental friendliness, good quality, respect for labor, and traceability in the whole process". Since the project was launched, it has received the attention of the government departments and the support from various parties inside and outside the industry, and has made good progress: initially build a sustainable cotton standard and certification system, build a traceability information platform, attract more than 30 well-known enterprises as members, strengthen media cooperation and exhibition publicity, and constantly expand the influence of Chinese cotton brands. In May 2024, the Association, together with relevant units and enterprises, jointly set up a cotton "double carbon" working group, hoping to build a cotton "double carbon" standard system and a high-quality cotton carbon footprint background database within five to 10 years. Relevant standards and product logos will be recognized by domestic and foreign enterprises and consumers, and promote the green and low-carbon transformation of the industry.

Wang Jianhong said that in the next step, he hoped to unite more forces, take the project as the starting point, guide relevant parties to pay more attention to and affirm the ecological and social values of cotton in addition to economic values, and promote cotton production and consumption by advocating a natural, comfortable and environmentally friendly lifestyle and philosophy. At the same time, we also hope to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with international peers in standards, brands and other aspects, learn advanced experience, and let the world see the practice and achievements of sustainable development of China's cotton industry.