The organic textile market - Portugal

1.1 Definition and scope of study

The term "bio-textile" refers to all fabrics obtained from organic farming and a process using a limited number of harmful or polluting substances. The most commonly used traditional organic fibres are cotton, wool, flax and hemp from organic farming and animal husbandry. The three main activities of the organic textile industry are yarn production, fabric production and fabric processing (e.g. dyeing).

The organic textile market is in constant growth and seems to have a bright future ahead of it, thanks to the awareness of consumers and professionals of the health hazards and environmental impact of "conventional" textiles. This market is young but very dynamic, as evidenced by the growing number of hectares of organically cultivated land around the world. Despite this, the proportion of arable land for organic products in Portugal is still limited to almost 6% of the available surface area, or a total of approximately 213,118 hectares in 2018 . [ FiBL ]

The Portuguese textile industry has been synonymous with pioneering innovation for sustainability in the production of organic fibres. Some examples include Inovafil, Filasa and Penteadora . These actors have invested not only in the fashion segment, but also in the sports segment . Recently, several Portuguese companies distinguished themselves in the world's largest sports fair (ISOP), precisely for innovation and sustainability. Despite internationalisation and good national acceptance, domestic consumption is still rather timid, which means that the growth potential is still quite relevant to Portuguese consumers. [ Dinheiro Vivo ]