Page 30 - May-June-2020

30 19
Germany unveils "Green Button" DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR

seal for sustainable textiles expands its design influence for

carpets and floor coverings

Mr Gerd Müller, German Development Minister has 'Too weak' But critics say it is too weak to make a
presented the country's new "Green Button" seal for difference. They say it is superfluous and has
sustainable textiles. He said that the new scheme is created duplicate structures to those that already
meant to ensure that consumers can purchase exist. They also pointed out that if only Germany was
clothing that has achieved certain social and taking part, it wouldn't make any real difference in a
globalized sector.
environmental standards, including a minimum
wage for textile workers and a ban on child labor, as Mr Uwe Wötzel of the "Clean Clothes Campaign
well as the use of certain chemicals and air said, “The criteria are simply too weak to make a
pollutants. difference with regards to sustainability and
ensuring that textile workers are employed in fair
The seal has already been applied to products from and safe conditions. For example, he said, the
some smaller German brands, but also large chains minimum wage laid out in the framework is so low
like Lidl and Tchibo. that no one could live off it."

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR – the leading trade Fudeli, Bloor, Jinyi, Licher, Nuogao and Moganshan
Indian textile industry deeply suffers due to show for carpets and floor coverings in the Asia have already confirmed their participation at the
Pacific region - expands the design and conference
show.
area and welcomes new and returning brands.
cheap yarn import from China and Indonesia In 2020, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR to be held The resilient flooring section will be spread out to
69,500 sqm gross, featuring Stone Plastic
on March 24-26, 2020 will cover more than 185,000
there will be an “Inspiration Hall”, housing
sqm of gross space, taking up 16 halls at the Composite (SPC) flooring. Among the resilient halls,
Indian textile industry is suffering immensely due to to Rs 160-165 per kg from the highs of Rs 190-200 Shanghai New International Expo Center. Five of the InnovAction campaign and design forum, where
cheap yarn import from China and Indonesia. A large six months ago. exhibition halls will be dedicated to carpets and famous interior designers will educate the audience
number of small and medium yarn producing units rugs, four to wood, bamboo and other hard floors, 2 on using resilient flooring in interior.
are on the verge of closing. There is currently a 5pc duty on imports of VSF yarn to FLOORTECH asia and 5 halls to resilient floor
and the industry is pleading to have government coverings. In 2019, the show gathered 1,579 Carpet section will promote carpet as a driving force
Due to US China trade war and FTA with ASEAN increase this to 10-15pc. Mr Ramesh Natarajan, exhibitors from 36 countries and attracted 66,875 for interior design, with a dedicated hall being the
countries, viscose staple fibre (VSF) yarn imports secretary of Indian Manmade Yarn Manufacturers trade visitors, of which 15,092 international, coming epicenter of home and design carpets and the host
have surged about 200pc year on year in the first five Association said, “These are not easy days. There is from 107 nations. hall for the Luxury Brands Carpet Show. Country
months of this financial year, touching a record 8,029 at least one month of unsold inventory across pavilions from Germany, Belgium, Iran and Turkey
tonnes in August for an average monthly demand of spinners, large and small. People are contemplating This year, for the 22nd edition, each flooring sector will showcase their products among the carpet halls.
50,000 tonnes. production offs of one-two days a week and our only will have a theme. The highlighted product category In order to give the oriental carpets and rugs the
plea is for the government to step in urgently and in wood is solid wood for ground heating systems. spotlight and follow the trends, Indian and
China has been at the forefront of exports and increase import duty on VSF yarn from 5pc to at least The international and local market leaders, such as Afghanistan pavilions will be creating a new area
Indonesia follows driving down the price of VSF yarn 10pc to give a level-playing field to the industry.” Junckers, Foglie d’Oro, Edelholz, IBF, Teclic, Nature, -“Treasure of Orient”.

May/June 2020 August/September 2019