Chinese apparel firm exports carbon-offset clothing

NANJING -- Chinese apparel brand HOdo said it has produced and exported the country's first batch of clothing certified as carbon neutral, contributing to the creation of a sustainable clothing ecosystem.

The carbon emissions related to the production of the clothing, which includes over 11,000 pairs of swimming trunks exported to the United States, were offset by afforestation activities which help absorb carbon dioxide by generating a forest carbon sink, according to HOdo.

HOdo Group, the owner of the brand, said it began to artificially cultivate yew trees in East China's Jiangsu province in 1997 and now has the country's largest yew seedling base, consisting of more than 165 hectares of forest.

"By exporting the batch of carbon-neutral clothing, HOdo hopes to inspire more apparel companies to make efforts to reduce carbon emissions. We will actively integrate resources to build carbon-neutral industrial clusters and contribute to industrial transformation," said Zhou Haijiang, board chairman of HOdo Group.

The company said it has provided carbon-neutral labeling, carbon asset management and carbon footprint services, among other services, to more than 20,000 enterprises in China.

China's national carbon market opened for trading last Friday, a significant step to help the country reduce its carbon footprint and meet its targets of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.