Organic Cotton:
Be China a member of WTO, there is still something we could not overlook: some developed countries have set green trade obstacles in the name of rules that made on textile, garment and environment, green labels and environmental value rating, which brings great impact on the export of textile and garment of China. In view of this, State Environmental Protection Administration and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China plus particular experts have organized China Certification Committee for Environmental Labeling Products. Chinese textile and garment companies are willing to advocate the certification of environmental labeling in accordance with “Technical Requirements of Environmental Labeling Products” issued by State Environmental Protection Administration mainly targeted at natural fiber textile products. In recent, the advent of organic cotton has solved the problem of pollution, which is on the one hand breaking the green obstacles, on the other creating a green channel for the increase of export volume.

So what is organic cotton? Organic cotton is natural green cotton produced without any chemical prevention against pollution from the stage of seed to the stage of agricultural product based on the management of organic manure, biological prevention against diseases and pests and farming. Moreover, it is a kind of certified cotton in which the pesticide, heavy-metal, nitrate and pests (bacteria and parasitic ovum included) are within the limitation of the standards in other countries or of the standards of “Agricultural Product Safety and Quality Standard” issued by WTO/FAO. The production of organic cotton not only needs light, heat, water and soil in the cultivation, but also has specific demand on the cleanness of soil environment, water condition of irrigation and air environment. Therefore, the production of organic cotton is an essential part for sustainable agriculture, which has tremendous significance in the protection of ecology environment, the promotion of healthy development for mankind and the satisfaction of consumers on green ecological garments.

Organic cotton was first produced in the late 1980s in Turkey by GFF organized by 5 European food importers. So far, many countries around the world have been making efforts by applicable means to develop and produce organic cotton. It is noticed that some big cotton export countries, such as the US, Turkey, India, Japan, Brazil and Egypt, are devoting to the research and promotion of organic cotton, in which the US is leading ahead. Organic cotton production system has covered 15 countries in less than 10 years; however, its total output takes less than 1% of that of the cotton in the globe. China started studying organic cotton in the late 1990s. Xinjiang has paid major contribution to it. Tufei Station of Xinjiang Agriculture Department has dedicated to “The Technical Research and Standard of Organic Cotton Production” since 2000. In 2003, the production site of organic cotton in Xingjiang has taken up 15 thousand acres with the total output about 600 tons.

Observing the trend of garment materials in the 21st century, we notice that people are worshiping nature and calling back to nature; what they care after the capability of warm-keeping and the beauty of garments are the capability of health-keeping and the comfort. Thus, organic cotton, with better development conditions, is going to be a booming industry in the next century. It is predicted by International Organic Agriculture Committee that organic cotton is replacing 30% of the total output of the cotton in the globe in 30 years, amounting to the total output of 4 million tons. The present output of organic cotton is merely 20 thousand tons in the world, mainly in the US, India, Turkey, Japan, Brazil, Egypt and China. Although the international price for organic cotton is twice or even three times higher than normal cotton, it is still underproduction. As a big cotton textile export country, China is necessary to cultivate different types of organic cotton, expand the planting area of it and develop its series products. It is estimated that after China realizes the industrial management of organic cotton with the input and output ratio 1:20 and the return of investment 1:14, the operational scale would be as large as 10 billion RMB. This would enable it to be a new economic growth area for the sustainable development of cotton and textile industry.

Xinjiang, as the largest cotton production area in China, has rich land resources to be reclaimed. Its great potential and exceptional advantages in the light and heat conditions for the soil plus the clean soil, aerosphere and water body entitle itself with fine environmental conditions for organic cotton production. Provided the production resources supply and the production cultivation process are organized, organic cotton would be in production. Yet the organic cotton production in Xinjiang has not been standardized or organized in accordance with technical regulations and system, which leads to the uncertainty of the safe quality of organic cotton that declines our competitive force home and abroad. Accordingly, we have to study the technical problems of organic cotton production and make standards for the cultivation, including water, manure, seeds and medication, of organic cotton in the process of production. Furthermore, industrialized samples should be set to motivate and lead Xinjiang organic cotton to realize standardization and industrialization for the transformation from resources advantage to economic and industry advantages, so that Xinjiang organic cotton will achieve great development and become attention of Xinjiang cotton industry.

Dyeing of Organic Cotton:
As environment- friendly cotton, organic cotton should be dyed with active green tinctures. In view of many national dyeing organizations fail to pass International Environment Protection Certification, we suggest our clients use imported European active green tinctures.