China on Tuesday issued the first batch of sustainable cotton production certificates to six companies, five of which are from Xinjiang, during a clothing expo held in Shanghai. The certificates were issued under the Cotton China Sustainable Development Program, a program launched in 2021 by the China Cotton Association and other organizations to create China’s first sustainable cotton standard, certification and evaluation system. More than 1.2 million mu of Chinese cotton fields have passed sustainable production authentication based on criteria like environmental protection and career benefits under the program.