DERRY - A new study on Uzbekistan's controversial cotton industry says the country still faces significant challenges if it is to achieve the international benchmarks expected by consumers and brands.Uzbekistan abolished the state-ordered quota system for cotton crops, ending a decades-old arrangement that encouraged forced labour in the industry, earlier this year and hopes international boycotts will soon be lifted.However, thenew report by Ulster University and the Uzbek Forum for Human R

Five garment manufacturing units and three private firms were recently allotted land along the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The decision is expected to fetch investments worth ₹50 crore and create 2,000 jobs, officials said. The allotted pieces of land are close to the upcoming international Greenfield airport in Jewar.Pic: ShutterstockThe five companies—H & MTraders, Twenty Second Miles, Prudent Exim, S K Textile Mills and Raghu Creations—are membe

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recently claimed it has developed a new variety of genetically modified Bt cotton seed that is pest-resistant and has a better shelf life for use in subsequent sowing seasons. The variety is in the final stages of getting notified by the central sub-committee on crop standards, notification and release of varieties.The sub-committee functions under the ministry of agriculture. The new variety is resistant to pests such as American bollworm, pink bollworm,

Thai Acrylic Fiber Co Ltd (TAF), a part of Aditya Birla Group, has launched a new range of fibre called Birlacril lumos. The new fibre will provide an enhanced level of richness to fabrics and garments. Birlacril lumos is a superior white colour fibre that will make the whites even whiter and improve the intensity of fabrics dyed in lighter or pastel shades.“Acrylic is known for bright and vibrant shades much better than any other fibre however, when it comes to light and pastel shades like baby

DERRY - A new study on Uzbekistan's controversial cotton industry says the country still faces significant challenges if it is to achieve the international benchmarks expected by consumers and brands.Uzbekistan abolished the state-ordered quota system for cotton crops, ending a decades-old arrangement that encouraged forced labour in the industry, earlier this year and hopes international boycotts will soon be lifted.However, thenew report by Ulster University and the Uzbek Forum for Human R

One of the most popular and iconic apparel product is denim, however, there are a lot of controversy regarding denim manufacturing as it leaves a lasting impact on nature.Requiring 7,000 liters of water to produce one pair of denim jeans. In the production process, toxic chemicals are used in the dying process, which pollutes riverways and water supplies.But there are some brands who are making a difference.Figure: Making sustainable denim is not a futuristic matter anymore. Courtesy:MUD JeansRi

Something more than a feelgood story is needed to entice cotton farmers into organic production as the pay-off from organic cotton in terms of healthier soils, communities and wildlife are worth the effort from an environmental point of view, according to Anita Chester, head-Sustainable Raw Materials, Laudes Foundation (earlier known as C&A Foundation)."Organic cotton is a sustainable choice, but still makes up a tiny proportion of global cotton supply. India is the largest producer, ac

LUBBOCK - Production of more sustainable fibre and materials is growing but not at the speed and scale required, according to Textile Exchange's 2020 Preferred Fibre and Materials Market Report (PFMR).It reveals that global fibre production has doubled in the last 20 years, reaching an all-time high of 111 million metric tons in 2019 and pre-COVID-19 results indicated potential growth to 146 million metric tons by 2030.However, while the market for preferred fibre and materials is growing wi

The World Bank recently approved a $750-million ‘MSME Emergency Response’ programme to support increased flow of finance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It will address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of around 1.5 million viable MSMEs to help them withstand the shock of the pandemic and protect millions of jobs.Pic: ShutterstockCOVID-19 has placed India’s MSME sector, which contributes 30 per cent to the country’s GDP a

ANN ARBOR - A new white paper from sustainability consultants Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) highlights the current state of textile waste in the US and outlines a future system in which textiles are recovered for best and highest use.Entitled Textile Recovery in the US: A Roadmap to Circularity, it analyses potential causes of the country's increasing textile waste problem, including fast fashion and fibre composition, which is outpacing every other form of waste."In the United State