TEXAS −[16.04.10] In a new statement of its objectives today, Organic Exchange has announced a raft of new initiatives that it hopes will advance the sustainable development of textiles across the global supply chain between now and 2015.

Amongst the wide ranging set of objectives, the most notable are an aim to develop an industry-wide ‘Factory Environmental Performance Standard’ that can be used to evaluate individual factories and/or mills on environmental criteria (water, chemicals, energy, etc.); and a target to deliver an assessment tool that companies can use to evaluate the sustainability of textile products and processes and make informed decisions.

It‘s likely that these two considerable objectives will be long-term aims for Organic Exchange, and the collaborative nature of the organisation means that these objectives will likely be developed in partnership with others.

The Organic Exchange, best known for its work in the organic cotton sector, recently said that it would widen its scope to cover eco-textiles and sustainability along the complete textile value chain. In the past, Organic Exchange helped to support the growth of the global organic cotton sector from a value of under US$300 million in 2002 to over US$3 billion in 2009.

Organic cotton and its commitment to farmers will still remain at the core of the organisation.

With today’s revised mission statement of intent, OE hopes to extend its scope to provide the tools and resources to advance the efforts of farmers, other fibre producers, and supply chain manufacturers within the eco-textile value chain to improve sustainability practices; to help standardise product integrity and to implement a chain-of-custody standards and systems to support sustainability claims.

Other plans include a database of companies offering innovation, best practices, and authenticity of sustainable textile products and processes; the creation of global forums, blogs, and other communications platforms around integrity and innovation in global sustainable textile issues; and the provision of advice and direct consulting services for the development and validation of company sustainable textile strategy.