BEIJING - China has introduced its own sustainable cotton standard, covering issues including workers' rights, environmental impact and the use of fertilizers, which comes into force from the beginning of next month.
The China Cotton Association (CCA) unveiled the new standard through the China Cotton Sustainable Development Programme launched last year as part of China's backlash against western criticism over the alleged use of forced labour in the Xinjiang region.
However, Ecotextile News cotton expert Simon Ferrigno said he believed the standard - which the CCA says aims to help cotton producers adopt sustainable methods and increase farmers' income - was merely a propaganda tool.
