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According to the president of the Brazilian Apparel and Textile Industry Association (Abit), Fernando Pimentel, the Brazilian tex-
tile industry is engaged in undoing a negative image linked to the sector all over the world: that it is polluting all the way from the
production of rawmaterials to the final industrial process. Sustainability is part of the segment’s strategic plans, which counts on an
advantageous position in this process, seeing that in Brazil cotton is produced in dryland – which drastically reduces the volume of
water needed for irrigation, in a comparison with irrigated cotton cultivations in other countries.
This could represent an advantage for cotton farming and the textile industry to project themselves into the world as users of
natural products and sustainable in their most comprehensive aspects, with intrinsic functionalities that meet the new demands
now on the way”, he argues. In Pimentel’s view, natural fibers still play a fundamental role in the Country’s apparel industry. “We
cannot afford to lose this asset, which is very important for our present and future competitiveness”, he concludes.
C
otton still occupies a leading
position among all fibers pro-
cessed in Brazil, a fact that con-
tributes towards maintaining a
supply chain of strong econom-
ic and social impact. Over the past years,
the national textile industry absorbed from
700 to 800 thousand tons of cotton a year. In
spite of this, the competition with synthet-
ic fibers is getting tighter, on the heels of a
trend present all over the world. According
to the president of theBrazilianApparel and
Textile IndustryAssociation (Abit), Fernando
Pimentel, now the Country consumes more
synthetic fibers than natural ones.
Within this scenario, the official be-
lieves that the “I’m of Cotton” campaign,
led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton
Producers (Abrapa), is of fundamental im-
portance. The idea is to promote a joint
event to debate on the future of cotton
in the Brazilian and global textile indus-
try. “We are going through a new phase,
where there is a prevalence for advanced
manufacture, digital economy and a se-
ries of new questions that will greatly af-
fect the consumption of raw materials in
our sector”, he warns. Although cotton is
still largely accepted and consumed, Pi-
mentel believes that the supply chain
should focus on new uses of the fiber, so
as not to reduce its market share.
Abit president recalls that one of the
main items of the project, “The Fourth In-
dustrial Revolution of the Apparel and Tex-
tile Sector: the Future Vision for 2030”, of
the entity, refers to new materials, and
how they will meet the needs of the pres-
ent day realities. “There is need for clear ac-
tion, coming from both the textile industry
and the cotton farmers, when it comes to
deciding on the future of cotton”, he says.
“Where and how this fiber will be used, oc-
cupying new spaces within amarket that is
evolving with several other types of fiber.”
Currently, the segment of bed linen
is still the one that requires the biggest
amount of cotton in the textile industry,
but per capita consumption, per piece, is
much smaller than in the past. Besides its
scarce use in traditional products, natu-
ral fiber is facing technological challeng-
es that require more than its well-known
qualities, like comfort and breathabili-
ty. “How will cotton deal with its perfor-
mance in the field of action on the way?
We, producers and industries, are facing
a challenge that consists in working joint-
ly with research centers capable of open-
ing new horizons for this fiber”, he insists.
The Brazilian Apparel and Textile Industry
Associationsuggestsjointactionswiththecottonfarmers
forthefutureofcottonintheindustrialsegment
New
horizons
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