Soil Association Organic Market Report shows organic Textiles growth

Soil Association Organic Market Report shows organic Textiles growth

Soil Association Certification, the UK’s leading certifier of organic products to Global Organic Textiles Standards (GOTS), saw the turnover of its textile symbol holders increase by 3.4%, while licensee numbers increased by 29%. The number of GOTS accredited textile facilities internationally reached 3,085 at the end of 2013, a 3% increase on the previous year. Overall, sales of organic products (including food/drink, catering and health and beauty) increased by 4% in 2014. The new figures announced today (24 February 2015) show this is significant growth in a year when both food prices (down 1.9%) and food spending (down 1.1%) fell. Shoppers spent an extra £1.4 million a week on organic products and the organic market exceeded £1.86 billion, bringing sales back to levels in 2009.  Growth in sales across Soil Association Certification symbol holders increased by 7.7%. 2014 has seen innovative brands expanding fast in both adult fashion retail and the baby and children’s wear market. There are also small but growing markets for homeware and for organic cotton personal care items such as cotton wool, tampons and cotton buds – bolstered by new GOTS standards for personal care products in 2014.

Emma Reinhold, trade relations manager at Soil Association Certification said; “It has been another positive year for the textiles market. More support from high street retailers along with initiatives like the Soil Association’s Organic Textiles Week is helping to raise awareness of the benefits of organic textiles and giving shoppers more choice when it comes to choosing ethical alternatives. We are seeing once again that rewards are there for those that stick with organic, make great products and sell them well.”

Industry organisation Textile Exchange said in its 2014 Organic Cotton Market Report¹ that global demand for organic cotton increased by 30% in 2013 but production fell by 4.1%,potentially threatening supply shortages in 2015. UK organic wool production also fell in 2013-14, dropping 17% to 118,699kg. Wool prices decreased by 16% to £1.02/kg, although organic producers received a 15p premium above this price for organic wool from some lowland breeds.

In organic business in general,  the mood is confident with 63% of leading businesses predicting growth in 2015 and six out of ten of these (62%) anticipating double-digit growth.