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India’s economic activity picked up pace in April on record tax collections and a booming services sector though rising unemployment and weaker trade metrics could sap some sentiment. The needle on a dial measuring the socalled Animal Spirits swung to six after staying at five for three consecutive months, signaling some strengthening in Asia’s third-largest economy. While six of the eight high-frequency indicators compiled by Bloomberg showed an improvement, a slowdown in India’s key export markets and high jobless rate may cloud prospects. The reading comes ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy decision due June 8, where it is likely to stay on hold as central bankers assess the impact of past year’s rate hikes on growth and inflation. Positive economic indicators would give comfort to the rate setters that an aggressive tightening hasn’t choked up the economy, allowing borrowing costs to remain elevated for longer to keep inflation within the target range of 2%-6%. Retail inflation slowed to an 18-month low of 4.70% in April. Here are more details from the animal spirits barometer, which uses a threemonth weighted average to smooth out volatility in single-month readings: Business Activity Purchasing managers’ surveys showed manufacturing activity improving as raw material costs moderated, leading to “unprecedented increase in input stocks as manufacturers seek to fulfill demand,” according to S&P Global Inc. Services activity and new business rose at fastest pace since June 2010, pushing up the composite index to a new high of 61.60. Stronger demand conditions allowed businesses to pass on rising costs to customers and to pay higher wages to staff though the labor market remained weak. “Despite the substantial pick-up in sales growth and improved business sentiment toward the outlook, the increase in employment seen in April was negligible and failed to gain meaningful traction,” said Pollyanna De Lima, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Exports India’s trade outlook is dimming both at home and abroad. Exports dropped 12.7% in April, while imports declined 14.06% from a year ago, narrowing the trade gap to near two-year low. Demand for Indian goods in the US and Europe is “not looking good” and it may stay the same for the next two to three months, Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi said last week. In contrast, the services sector saw outbound shipments rising for a second month, aided by a surge in information technology and business consulting work for India, known as the back office of the world. Market share gains helped to propel India’s services exports to $33 billion and it “would still stay stable at a high level even if global services do not grow from here,” Morgan Stanley economists led by Chetan Ahya said in a research note May 17.
Consumer Activity Liquidity in the banking system tightened in April, pushing up overnight rates and making it difficult for firms with a weaker credit profile to access funds from the markets. However, overall bank credit still increased from a month ago as companies borrowed to expand operations and meet domestic demand. Banking system liquidity is set to improve in the coming weeks after the central bank removed the highest valued bank notes from circulation, which may spur more deposits. India’s goods and services tax collection, which helps measure consumption, hit a record high of 1.87 trillion rupees ($22.6 billion) in April after rising 12% from a year ago. In a sign that the growth in consumer demand is uneven, new vehicle retail sales fell 1.4% in the same period, according to data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations.
Market Sentiment Electricity consumption, a widely used proxy to measure demand in industrial and manufacturing sectors, rose from the previous month with the onset of the summer season. Peak demand at the end of April rose to 178 gigawatt from 170 gigawatt a month ago. India’s unemployment rate climbed to four-month high of 8.11%, from 7.80% in March as job creation failed to keep pace with a rapidly growing workforce in the world’s most populous country.
Source: Economic times
The commerce ministry is trying to address issues pertaining to the promotion of exports through ecommerce medium, a senior government official has said. Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi also said that while the USD 2 trillion export target by 2030 is ambitious as it entails an annual growth of 14.5 per cent (CAGR), it is not impossible. "We trying to address issues on seamless e-commerce for export promotion. We are in touch of the Department of Revenue, RBI, Icegate, and the Department of Post on the issues which entails remission of duties and incentives, ensuring postal bills flows into Icegate, building a regulatory system which addresses return back, etc, he was quoted by TPCI in a release. The DGFT was addressing the TPCI's inaugural edition of India Business and Trade Annual Conclave 2023 here on May 23 The Trade Promotion Council ofIndia (TPCI), government, industry and academic deep dive to explore ways to reach USD 2 trillion in exports. "Research reveals a positive correlation between higher exports and higher per capita income. For achieving the $2 trillion target, India is focusing on both demand and supply side aspects with respective policies," he added. Sanjeet Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, and Joint Secretary in the External Affairs ministry Noor Rahman Sheikh also participated. During his address, Mohit Singla, Chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India, said that India Business and Trade Conclave in the years to come will be at the forefront to discuss all aspects of India's foreign trade. The conclave will also emphasise on how the industry will benefit from the initiatives taken by the government, focussing on emerging areas of growth and potential, Singla said.
Source: Economic times
This strategic partnership aims to empower the industry by optimising industry guidelines and solutions through collaborative efforts, ultimately driving sustainability while meeting the needs of chemical formulators/manufacturers, suppliers, brands, and retailers. While Oeko-Tex has been collaborating with ZDHC for over five years, this formal agreement signifies a milestone that will enhance the benefits for brands and their suppliers. Frank Michel, executive director of ZDHC Foundation said: “Together, we aim to accelerate sustainable chemical management, responsible production, and safer materials. This collaboration marks a significant step towards a sustainable future for the industry.”
The collaboration agreement establishes a framework for several key areas of cooperation. Oeko-Tex Eco Passport, a well-established certification, has gained approval for certifying conformance against the ZDHC MRSL V3.1. Chemical Formulators can obtain this certification from all Oeko-Tex Eco Passport laboratories, provided they register their products with the ZDHC Gateway. The collaboration will also focus on aligning with the upcoming ZDHC Chemicals to Zero Programme and facilitating knowledge transfer between technical groups in both organisations. This alignment will ensure a smoother transition and better integration of sustainable practices across the industry. Both parties will promote ZDHC products and platforms, such as the Gateway, InCheck, and ClearStream, by Oeko-Tex By minimising duplication and promoting harmonisation, the organisations seek to streamline processes within the industry. Oeko-Tex STeP customers will benefit from easy access to the ZDHC Gateway and the ZDHC Supplier to Zero Programme, enabling them to enhance their readiness for Oeko-Tex STeP certification. Additionally, wastewater testing for Oeko-Tex STeP will directly translate into a ZDHC ClearStream, simplifying customer requirements. The rollout of these initiatives is planned for late summer 2023. The existing partnership between Oeko-Tex and The BHive will enable STeP customers to digitalise their chemical inventories. Through The BHive, customers can conduct ZDHC Performance InCheck and ensure conformance with the ZDHC Gateway, which hosts the largest database of chemical products certified against the ZDHC MRSL. To further strengthen data quality and enhance performance and impact evaluation, ZDHC and Oeko-Tex will establish data-sharing processes, benefiting customers in various aspects, including the Eco Passport process and listing on the ZDHC Gateway. The timeline for the rollout of these data-sharing initiatives will be determined in the upcoming months. Georg Dieners, general secretary of Oeko-Tex added: “Since ZDHC and Oeko-Tex are aiming to positively impact products, the environment and people, a wellstructured collaboration will include joint recognition of each other’s programs. The objective of the partnership between ZDHC and Oeko-Tex is to share learning and experience, driving sustainability by eliminating harmful chemicals throughout the supply chain and lowering the apparel, footwear, and textile industry’s impact.”
Source: The just-style.com
Regarding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations between India and Australia, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said that they are planned in the month of June, and July respectively regarding the deadline set for CECA negotiations. He said that after the launch of the India-Australia ECTA (Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement) recently, the discussions have progressed very well within a short period of time. "All I understand is the next couple of rounds of CECA negotiation is planned for...I think one in June and one in the month of July. You would've noticed and perhaps appreciated the fact that ECTA was only launched very recently and within such a short time, the discussions have progressed from not only full utilisation of the benefits that are available to the business community under ECTA but also to start talking about on how these can further be built upon through comprehensive economic cooperation agreement," Kwatra said during the special press briefing on PM Modi's Australia visit. The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAusECTA) came into effect on December 29, 2022. The ECTA was signed on April 2, 2022, and ratified on November 21, written notifications were exchanged on November 29 and after 30 days, the Agreement came into force. India and Australia implemented an economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA) and are now negotiating to expand its scope for the CECA. "Well, for those who asked about the deadline, I would only refer you to the fact that the next two rounds have been planned for June and July," Kwatra added further. However, he also said that market access is a subject matter of very very detailed discussions. "Market access whether it is for goods, or for services or it is in the movement of capital is a subject matter of very very detailed discussions between professional negotiators," the Foreign Secretary said. In March this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that India and Australia are working towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, emphasising that people-to-people connections have been the foundation of ties between the two countries. Albanese said that high-level contact between the two countries has further strengthened cooperation across many sectors. The bilateral trade between the two countries amounts to nearly 27 billion dollars in 2021-22. The bilateral trade is expected to cross 45 to 50 billion dollars by 2035. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell met in March to discuss steps for further enhancing the bilateral economic relationship. According to a joint statement, they discussed the implementation of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), negotiations for the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Regarding the discussions between PM Modi, and Albanese in Sydney on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kwatra said that the focus of the discussion was on the impact of the conflict on various economic dimensions, particularly on developing countries. "As I mentioned in my opening remarks also, the focus of discussion with regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict was on the impact of that conflict on various economic dimensions and in particular their impact on the developing countries," Kwatra said in response to media queries. "So, the challenges particularly relating to food security, the derivative, inflationary pressures which emerged out of the food security challenges earlier on. The uncertainty relating to the fuel, oil in that sense...there it was more about how the uncertainty itself burdens many of the developing countries in terms of planning how the energy security of that particular country is to be structured etc," he added. Talking about other issues that were discussed between the two PMs, Kwatra said, "The discussions between the two prime ministers there were also areas of regional significance that came up for discussion, Quad (comprising of Australia, India, Japan and US), where they spoke about free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and discussions in the QUAD and the Indo-Pacific and discussions in the quad realm and indo-pacific realm and how India and Australia can work together to shape a positive agenda in Quad and indopacific was discussed naturally."
Source: Economic times
India and Australia on Wednesday inked a migration and mobility partnership pact to open up opportunities for students, academic researchers and business people and resolved to conclude a comprehensive trade deal by the end of year to significantly expand economic ties. The pact was signed after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. In his media statement, Albanese said the aim is to conclude the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) by the end of the year. “We reiterated our shared ambition for an early conclusion of the Australia-India comprehensive economic cooperation agreement later this year,” he said in the presence of Modi. Last year, India and Australia finalised the Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement (ECTA) and it came into force in December last. The two sides are now working on the CECA. “Today, in my meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, we talked about taking India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to greater heights in the next decade,” Modi said. “We had constructive discussions on strengthening our strategic cooperation in the sectors of mining and critical minerals. We have identified concrete areas for cooperation in renewable energy,” Modi said. “It was decided to set up a task force on Green Hydrogen,” he added. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the next two rounds of talks on the economic partnership pact have been scheduled for June and July. Modi and Albanese also witnessed the signing of the terms of reference of the Australia-India Green Hydrogen Taskforce which will explore opportunities in the area of renewable hydrogen. “Renewable energy was once again a focus and an important topic in our discussions,” Albanese said. On the migration and mobility pact, Albanese said it will promote the exchange of students, graduates, researchers and business people; expand our people-topeople ties and enhance cooperation in “preventing people smuggling”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Modi and Albanese welcomed the signing of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA). It said the MMPA will further facilitate mobility of students, professionals, researchers, academics and others, including through a new skilled pathway named MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) specifically created for India. It said they also welcomed the finalisation of terms of reference of the India-Australia Hydrogen taskforce. The taskforce will advise on opportunities to accelerate manufacture and deployment of clean hydrogen, focusing on hydrogen electrolysers, fuel cells as well as supporting infrastructure and standards and regulations. In his remarks, Modi also highlighted the importance of India-Australia relations for the region. “The scope of India-Australia relations is not limited to merely our two countries. It is also linked to regional stability, peace and global welfare,” he said.
Source: The eastmojo.com
Regarding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations between India and Australia, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said that they are planned in the month of June, and July respectively regarding the deadline set for CECA negotiations. of July. You would've noticed and perhaps appreciated the fact that ECTA was only launched very recently and within such a short time, the discussions have progressed from not only full utilisation of the benefits that are available to the business community under ECTA but also to start talking about on how these can further be built upon through comprehensive economic cooperation agreement," Kwatra said during the special press briefing on PM Modi's Australia visit. The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAusECTA) came into effect on December 29, 2022. The ECTA was signed on April 2, 2022, and ratified on November 21, written notifications were exchanged on November 29 and after 30 days, the Agreement came into force. India and Australia implemented an economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA) and are now negotiating to expand its scope for the CECA. "Well, for those who asked about the deadline, I would only refer you to the fact that the next two rounds have been planned for June and July," Kwatra added further. However, he also said that market access is a subject matter of very very detailed discussions. "Market access whether it is for goods, or for services or it is in the movement of capital is a subject matter of very very detailed discussions between professional negotiators," the Foreign Secretary said. In March this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that India and Australia are working towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, emphasising that people-to-people connections have been the foundation of ties between the two countries. Albanese said that high-level contact between the two countries has further strengthened cooperation across many sectors. The bilateral trade between the two countries amounts to nearly 27 billion dollars in 2021-22. The bilateral trade is expected to cross 45 to 50 billion dollars by 2035. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell met in March to discuss steps for further enhancing the bilateral economic relationship. According to a joint statement, they discussed the implementation of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), negotiations for the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and further development of two-way investment. Regarding the discussions between PM Modi, and Albanese in Sydney on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kwatra said that the focus of the discussion was on the impact of the conflict on various economic dimensions, particularly on developing countries. "As I mentioned in my opening remarks also, the focus of discussion with regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict was on the impact of that conflict on various economic dimensions and in particular their impact on the developing countries," Kwatra said in response to media queries. "So, the challenges particularly relating to food security, the derivative, inflationary pressures which emerged out of the food security challenges earlier on. The uncertainty relating to the fuel, oil in that sense...there it was more about how the uncertainty itself burdens many of the developing countries in terms of planning how the energy security of that particular country is to be structured etc," he added. Talking about other issues that were discussed between the two PMs, Kwatra said, "The discussions between the two prime ministers there were also areas of regional significance that came up for discussion, Quad (comprising of Australia, India, Japan and US), where they spoke about free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and discussions in the QUAD and the Indo-Pacific and discussions in the quad realm and indo-pacific realm and how India and Australia can work together to shape a positive agenda in Quad and indo-pacific was discussed naturally."
Source: Business world
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Australian businesses to take advantage of investment opportunities in India in sectors like digital infrastructure, telecom, and semiconductors. He suggested the Australian CEOs to forge partnerships with their Indian counterparts. The prime minister, while addressing top Australian CEOs at a business round-table here, also talked about numerous economic reforms undertaken by the government. He "invited them to take advantage of investment opportunities offered by India in domains of infrastructure including digital infrastructure, IT, fintech, telecom, semiconductors, space, renewable energy including green hydrogen, education, pharma, healthcare including medical devices manufacturing, mining including critical minerals, textile, agriculture and food processing, " Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet. The government has taken steps like reducing compliance burden, introduction of production linked incentive scheme and easing of foreign direct investment norms. On May 23, the prime minister met business leaders of top Australian companies and called for enhancing cooperation with the Indian industry in areas such as technology, skilling and clean energy. Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday for the third and final leg of his three-nation tour. He is visiting Australia as a guest of the Australian government. Modi held bilateral meetings with Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman Gina Rinehart; Fortescue Future Industry Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest and Australia Super CEO Paul Schroder. During April 2000 and December 2022, India received USD 1.07 billion in investments from Australia, according to government data. Both countries have already implemented an interim free trade agreement on December 29 last year. The two nations are now engaged India is Australia's largest export market for gold and chickpeas, the second-largest market for coal and copper ores and the third-largest market for lead and wool. Key imports from Australia include coal, copper ores and concentrates and petroleum.
Source: The telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com
The Fashion Pact, an initiative launched four years ago with the aim of driving environmental change in the fashion industry, is now grappling with the departure of several influential members, coinciding with H&M's ascension to a prominent position within the coalition. Renowned luxury retailers Hermès and Selfridges have recently withdrawn their participation, joining Stella McCartney in her discreet exit. It is thought the coalition's limited progress as the primary reason for their departure. According to the Business of Fashion, the Fashion Pact has only managed to execute a pilot project and preliminary analysis programs thus far. In contrast, new members such as Asics, Chloe, and J. Crew Group continue to join. The organisation recently announced the appointment of Helena Helmersson, CEO of H&M, as co-chair, replacing François-Henri Pinault of Kering who's three-year tenure has ended. Presently encompassing over 200 brands, the Fashion Pact seeks to attain sustainability objectives that include the restoration of biodiversity, preservation of oceans, and achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. he journey towards these goals has proven to be more arduous than initially anticipated, particularly considering that global fashion companies produce over 100 billion garments annually. H&M, for instance, manufactures a staggering 3 billion garments per year, constituting approximately three percent of global production. Additionally, reports indicate that H&M is sitting on an inventory of 4.3 billion dollars of unsold garments. A significant portion of the pact's members have failed to fulfill their commitments, said BoF's report, with nearly 40 percent neglecting to establish science-based targets for emissions reduction. In its mission, the Fashion Pact aims to achieve renewable energy self-sufficiency by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. It has also implemented a virtual collective energy purchase agreement to encourage the use of renewable energy and is currently developing a biodiversity benchmark to assess companies' impact on fauna and flora. Slowing growth versus emissions reduction Many environmentalists remain critical of the fashion industry's relentless growth and rate of garment production. With the burgeoning middle classes in India, China, and Africa, the consumption of fast fashion is projected to soar. Retailers such as H&M are hesitant to embrace measures that may curtail output or impact profitability, instead opting to invest in circularity, carbon neutrality, sustainable fabrics and recycling models. Brands must reassess their businesses to disentangle growth from volume and recognise the true environmental consequences of their operations, beyond mere financial implications. Considering the staggering amount of 253 tons of textile waste deposited in landfills daily, along with the consumption of 2,700 and 7,000 liters of water required to produce a single tshirt or pair of jeans, it becomes apparent that the global companies aligned with the Fashion Pact are reaping significant profits while in the business of driving high product turnover. Unsurprisingly, no CEO is eager to witness a decline in their bottom line.
Source: The fashionunited.uk
INTERNATIONAL
This strategic partnership aims to empower the industry by optimising industry guidelines and solutions through collaborative efforts, ultimately driving sustainability while meeting the needs of chemical formulators/manufacturers, suppliers, brands, and retailers. While Oeko-Tex has been collaborating with ZDHC for over five years, this formal agreement signifies a milestone that will enhance the benefits for brands and their suppliers. Frank Michel, executive director of ZDHC Foundation said: “Together, we aim to accelerate sustainable chemical management, responsible production, and safer materials. This collaboration marks a significant step towards a sustainable future for the industry.”
The collaboration agreement establishes a framework for several key areas of cooperation. Oeko-Tex Eco Passport, a well-established certification, has gained approval for certifying conformance against the ZDHC MRSL V3.1. Chemical Formulators can obtain this certification from all Oeko-Tex Eco Passport laboratories, provided they register their products with the ZDHC Gateway. The collaboration will also focus on aligning with the upcoming ZDHC Chemicals to Zero Programme and facilitating knowledge transfer between technical groups in both organisations. This alignment will ensure a smoother transition and better integration of sustainable practices across the industry. Both parties will promote ZDHC products and platforms, such as the Gateway, InCheck, and ClearStream, by Oeko-Tex By minimising duplication and promoting harmonisation, the organisations seek to streamline processes within the industry. Oeko-Tex STeP customers will benefit from easy access to the ZDHC Gateway and the ZDHC Supplier to Zero Programme, enabling them to enhance their readiness for Oeko-Tex STeP certification. Additionally, wastewater testing for Oeko-Tex STeP will directly translate into a ZDHC ClearStream, simplifying customer requirements. The rollout of these initiatives is planned for late summer 2023. The existing partnership between Oeko-Tex and The BHive will enable STeP customers to digitalise their chemical inventories. Through The BHive, customers can conduct ZDHC Performance InCheck and ensure conformance with the ZDHC Gateway, which hosts the largest database of chemical products certified against the ZDHC MRSL. To further strengthen data quality and enhance performance and impact evaluation, ZDHC and Oeko-Tex will establish data-sharing processes, benefiting customers in various aspects, including the Eco Passport process and listing on the ZDHC Gateway. The timeline for the rollout of these data-sharing initiatives will be determined in the upcoming months. Georg Dieners, general secretary of Oeko-Tex added: “Since ZDHC and Oeko-Tex are aiming to positively impact products, the environment and people, a wellstructured collaboration will include joint recognition of each other’s programs. The objective of the partnership between ZDHC and Oeko-Tex is to share learning and experience, driving sustainability by eliminating harmful chemicals throughout the supply chain and lowering the apparel, footwear, and textile industry’s impact.”
Source: The just-style.com
Bangladesh's apparel export to European Union has shown value-wise growth by 3.9% during the January-March period of 2023 to $5.6 billion from $5.4 billion in January-March 2022. Also, with 24.07% share of the EU's total RMG import (in terms of dollar value), Bangladesh remains the second largest apparel import source for the EU after China (China's share 24.55%) during January-March 2023. However, according to the quantity-wise import statistics (measured in kilogram), Bangladesh became number "one" sourcing country for EU during the mentioned months of 2023. In fact, Bangladesh secured the top position in EU's apparel sourcing list in terms of quantity in 2022 as well. In quantity term, import from Bangladesh saw a decline by 3.67%, or 11.84 million KGs, says a statistic recently published by Eurostat. The quantity decline was caused by inflated unit price (due to raw materials, transportation and other production cost hike) which was increased by 7.86% in January-March of 2023. "The Eurostat has published the data on EU's apparel import for the period of January-March 2023 and we have compiled and analyzed it based on year-onyear progress," said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Faruque Hassan. The Eurostat statistic says, apparel import from the world in the mentioned period has declined by 4.94% compared to the corresponding period of 2022, about 1.22 billion dollars decline. In terms of quantity, EU's clothing import had a stiff downturn by 12.64%, which is 136.88 million KGs less than Jan-Mar 2022. EU's import from China the 2nd largest apparel import source has declined by 17.80% in value terms to $5.7 billion during the mentioned period fromU$6.99 dollars. In terms of quantity, the decline is recorded 22.46 % or 65 million KGs. Among the top ten apparel-sourcing countries Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam have shown positive growth while EU's apparel import from other countries including Turkey, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Morocco has declined. As per the data, during January-March 2023, EU's imports from Turkey the third largest apparel import source of EU has dropped significantly by 12.79%. Yet, EU's imports from India and Vietnam have increased by 5.75% and 3.73% respectively in value terms. Though volume-wise, EU's import from all the top countries has shown negative growth.
Source: The tbsnews.net
In a news statement sent through email, a consortium representing the textile, clothing, and fashion industries urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to incorporate textile reuse and recycling into its ongoing updates of the FTC Green Guides. According to the group’s letter to the FTC, there will be no discussions of textiles at a series of workshops on recycling that will be held on Tuesday in an effort to broaden the scope of the Green Guides. Among the 22 signatories are UpWest, a subsidiary of Express Inc., political advocacy group Politically In Fashion, and American Circular Textiles, a network of fashion firms and others created by fashion circularity advisory company Circular Services Group. According to the most recent report from American Circular Textiles, whose members include The RealReal, Rent the Runway, ThredUp, Arrive, Fashionphile, Supercircle, Thrilling, Debrand, H&M, Reformation, Sortile, and America’s Best Cleaners, textile waste in the U.S. has increased by 80 per cent over the past 20 years and is the fastest-growing waste stream. According to the report, more than 30 billion pounds of textile waste are burned and dumped every year. “We encourage the FTC to provide an additional workshop focused on textiles to appropriately acknowledge this pressing reuse and recycling topic,” the group said.
Source: Apparel Resources
Plastic pollution is seemingly omnipresent in society, and while plastic bags, cups, and bottles may first come to mind, plastics are also increasingly used to make clothing, rugs, and other textiles. A new study from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, published May 24 in the journal PLOS One, for the first time tracked the ability of natural, synthetic, and blended fabrics to biodegrade directly in the ocean. Lead author Sarah-Jeanne Royer conducted an experiment off the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier and found that natural and wood-based cellulose fabrics degraded within a month. Synthetic textiles, including so-called compostable plastic materials like polylactic acid (PLA), and the synthetic portions of textile blends, showed no signs of degradation even after more than a year submerged in the ocean. "This study shows the need for standardizing tests to see if materials promoted as compostable or biodegradable actually do biodegrade in a natural environment," said Royer, who performed the research while a postdoctoral scholar in the Dimitri Deheyn laboratory at Scripps Oceanography. Royer currently remains affiliated with Scripps Oceanography as a visiting scholar from Hawaiʻi Pacific University. "What might biodegrade in an industrial setting does not necessarily biodegrade in the natural environment and can end up as marine and environmental pollutants." Startling images of landfills stacked with mountains of thrown away clothing in Chile and Kenya show the global ramifications of fast fashion. An estimated 62% of textiles —68 million tons—are now made from plastic fibers and plastic blends, which can persist in the environment for decades to centuries. Synthetic textiles also create plastic pollution from microfibers shedding during regular wearing and washing. Most washing machines are not designed to filter for microfibers, that then end up in wastewater, and ultimately the ocean. Bio-based plastics made from renewable natural resources such as cornstarch or sugar cane have been marketed as a potential solution to the plastic problem. PLA is one such polymer in the bio-based plastics market, often labeled as biodegradable and compostable. The team chose this textile for the study given its extensive use as a replacement for oilbased materials. For the experiment, ten different types of fabrics were used including wood-based cellulose (known commercially as Lyocell, Modal, and Viscose); natural cellulose (organic virgin cotton and non-organic virgin cotton); bio-based plastic (PLA); oil-based plastic (polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene), and fabric blends of Lyocell mixed with polyester and polypropylene. All these are commonly used in the textile industry. Polyethylene terephthalate is a type of polyester often marketed as a recycled textile. Polypropylene is used in textiles, carpets, geotextiles, packaging materials, and disposable medical textiles such as masks. The textile samples were placed in flow-through containers deployed both at the sea surface and at the seafloor approximately 10 meters (32 feet) deep. Samples were examined every seven days with images taken, and small pieces removed from duplicate samples for further examination in the lab. This included scanning electron microscopy to examine the fibers at high resolution, and Raman spectroscopy to gain information about the chemical composition and molecular structure of the fibers. The samples were then submerged again, in a process that lasted for 231 days at the sea surface and 196 days at the seafloor. After the conclusion of the Scripps Pier experiment, the samples were moved to the Experimental Aquarium at Scripps Oceanography, where samples were exposed to controlled conditions of flowing seawater. While the natural, cellulosebased textiles repeatedly disintegrated in 30–35 days, the oil-based and bio-based materials showed no sign of disintegration even after a total of 428 days. "The natural, cellulose-based materials would disintegrate in about one month, so we would exchange for a new sample after the old one disintegrated," said Royer. "The natural samples were replicated five times, while the plastic samples remained the same for more than a year." Examining the samples via electron microscopy allowed Scripps marine biologist Dimitri Deheyn, senior author of the study, to measure the size and structure of each fiber. The natural fibers became thinner with time, while the diameter of the plastic fibers remained the same showing no sign of biodegradation. Study co-author Francesco Greco performed the Raman spectroscopy analysis at the Department of Geology of Northwest University, China, looking at the structuralchemical degradation of the fibers. Greco, now at the Weizmann Institute of Science, found significant changes in the chemical fingerprint of the cellulose-based materials, while bio- and oil-based plastics remained unchanged. Fiber blends, which interweave natural fiber strands with bio- or oil-based plastic strands, are often promoted as a more sustainable alternative to textiles made entirely from synthetic plastics. This study showed, however, that only the natural part of the fiber degraded, with the plastic portion of the blend remaining intact. Additionally, the same type of fabrics were tested in a closed-system bioreactor by an independent company, which replicates a marine environment in an enclosed, indoor system. The bioreactor allowed measurements of the percent of carbon dioxide produced by microbial activity using the fabrics as nutrients, which was thus used as a proxy for measuring biodegradability. The cellulose-based materials showed complete biodegradation within 28 days, whereas the oil-based and bio-based fibers did not show any sign of biodegradation. Study authors note that the bio-based polylactic plastic, marketed as an ecologically promising material, and the oil-based polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene, represent an important source of human-caused pollution, and the fate of how these materials act in a natural environment should be further explored. "This comparative study highlights how crucial our language is around plastics," said Deheyn. "Indeed, a bioplastic like PLA, commonly assumed to be biodegradable in the environment because it contains the prefix 'bio,' is actually nothing like that." Given these results, Royer and the team hope consumers will become more aware of the power of their own choices. "Consumers who are concerned about microfiber plastic pollution should be mindful of the materials they are buying," said Royer. "We should all aim to buy fewer garments, opt for high-quality, cellulose-based materials like cotton, merino or wool that will last longer, or look to more circular and sustainable options that repurpose items like clothing swaps and Buy Nothing groups."
Source: The phys.org
Indonesia and Slovenia have agreed to explore potential trade cooperation in several sectors, including pharmacy, textile products, and furniture. "We will also explore the potential of logistics cooperation with the Port of Koper to boost both countries' trade," Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said at a joint press conference with her Slovenian counterpart, Tanja Fajon, in Jakarta on Wednesday. During their meeting, Marsudi briefed Minister Fajon on priority Indonesian investment areas, including renewable energy, technology, and innovation. "We have also come to an agreement on the acceleration of the finalization of the IndonesiaEuropean Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations," Minister Marsudi informed. According to the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, bilateral trade with Slovenia accounted for 14.71 percent of Indonesia’s overall trade in the past five years, and trade between the two countries increased by 45.4 percent in 2022. The Slovenian Foreign Minister welcomed the increase in trade with Indonesia, but she noted that the two countries still have a lot of potential that has not yet been tapped. With that in mind, Minister Fajon urged business actors in Indonesia to make the most of the potential offered by the Port of Koper, which is situated in the north of the Adriatic Sea and is one of the main ports of Slovenia. Unlike many other European ports managed by port authorities, activities at Port of Koper involve free-zone region management, port region management, and terminal operators. Currently, Port Koper provides services on the Adriatic Sea-Central Europe route. "Slovenia is a natural pathway from Asia to Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and also to countries in the eastern part of the continent. Therefore, I would like to offer you the shortest path to Europe via our Port of Koper," Fajon said. She then addressed Slovenian business actors and highlighted the importance of the growth of the green economy in Indonesia.
Source: The en.antaranews.com
