During a press conference at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, the world textile machinery exhibition, last October 15th in Shanghai, ACIMIT, the Association of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, unveiled CLIMA (Committed to Low Impact Machinery), the new green certification applied to Italian textile machinery. CLIMA will replace Green Label’s previous certification designed by ACIMIT back in 2011.
Salvadè stated: “The focus of ACIMIT’s Sustainable Technologies project has been the Green Label since its launch. This certification, which identifies the energy and environmental performance of each machine and makes it easily recognizable and understandable, has been a game changer for our industry, testifying to Italian manufacturers’ commitment to sustainability. This commitment takes the form of savings in Carbon dioxide emissions as certified by a survey on the Green Labels produced from 2016 to 2023. The quantified avoided emissions are 1.2 million tons Carbon dioxide equivalent, corresponding to more than 221 thousand cars traveling for 35 thousand km over a year (on average).”
But now it is necessary to take note of the major changes imposed by international authorities, first and foremost those of the European Union. So in order to harmonize the previous ACIMIT green certification, i.e. Green Label, with the European regulations set forth in the new directive concerning “Empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and through better information” CLIMA was launched.
ACIMIT, together with RINA, the international certifying body which is assisting ACIMIT in the project, successfully proposed to its member companies CLIMA the updated tool, that standardizes to its Statement of transparency and commitment to sustainability, guaranteeing transparency, exhaustiveness and truthful environmental claims referred to the self-assessment and the related digital tool for the production of Labels.
About 50 Italian companies exhibited at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, took place from October 14 to 18 in Shanghai. With an area of around 1,400 square meters, Italy ranks among the top exhibiting Countries, as in previous editions. 29 Italian exhibitors showcased their innovations within the National Sector Groups, organized by ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) and the Italian Trade Agency.
ITMA ASIA CITME show has always been the main showcase for textile machinery manufacturers in Asia, which absorbs over 50% of global exports. Moreover, China is the world’s largest market in the sector (the value of imported textile machinery in 2023 was around 2.6 billion euros). For Italian manufacturers as well, the Chinese market is the top foreign destination. In 2023, Italian sales to China amounted to 222 million euros. In the first six months of this year, exports to China increased by 38%, while the performance of total Italian exports declined slightly in the same period. “We hope that the recovery of the Chinese market, observed in this first half of the year, may be an early indication of a more general upturn in global demand for machinery,” says ACIMIT President Marco Salvade.
Over the past few years, demand from Chinese companies has turned to technologies that combine savings in production costs and environmental friendliness, as also demanded by brands and end consumers. “Today, Italian manufacturers can offer highly customized solutions that are particularly suited to making textile production more sustainable,” confirms Salvadè. “The Chinese textile machinery market is rapidly evolving, and the level of innovation in the technology requested has risen due to the growing international competition that even Chinese companies face. In Shanghai, Italian manufacturers will display their latest innovations, essential for making textile production more efficient and sustainable.”
For his part, Augusto Di Giacinto, Director of ITA Shanghai, states that, “ITMA ASIA + CITME is the leading textile machinery exhibition in China. As a government agency, the Italian Trade Agency always in partnership with ACIMIT has supported Italian companies to participate in the exhibition for many consecutive sessions. The Italian textile machinery industry will showcase the most advanced Italian manufacturing technologies, with a focus on digitalization and sustainability. Data shows that in the first half of this year, Italian textile machinery exports to China showed a significant growth momentum, which is a positive signal. I believe that the Italian-Chinese textile machinery trade will continue to maintain a good development momentum next year.”
