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Four Thai exporters of fabrics and garments have been awarded the EU Flower mark, assuring them easier access to the European Union market and higher prices.

Asia Fibre, Rama Textile Industry, Greenville Trading and Thong Thai Textile are the first Asian companies to receive the green award, also known as the Eco-label. The first three exhibited at the Texworld 2008

fair in Paris last month.

In the light of the booming trend for eco-textiles, manufacturers, retailers and brands are on the lookout for credible standards in the industry to green their supply chain.

The EU Flower is given to "excellent front runners" among environmentally friendly products, and the three companies were proud to flaunt the stamp of approval on its home turf.

EU Flower marketing expert Nick Paxevanos told the fair seminar "EU Flower: Innovative Thai Textile Companies in the European Market" that demand for eco-textiles was more than a fad and set to substantially increase in the next two years, particularly as the European Commission's (EC) 2010 initiative on "Green Public Procurement" would likely increase demand of eco-products in general on the part of member countries' public sectors.

Pisan Manawapat, Thai ambassador to the EC, said: "Getting the EU Flower means that those four Thai companies come up to EU environmental standards, which are among the highest in the world."

Thailand textile exports to the EU reached more than US$1.3 billion (Bt44.7 billion) last year, accounting for 20 per cent of the industry's exports.

However, they faced strong competition from countries with a low-price strategy, so the label should do them some good there, as demand for goods sporting it is already rising.

According to the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, the market value of EU Flower products is increasing 25 per cent per annum, notably baby clothes, even in Japan and the United States.

The bank said EU Flower-certified goods commanded a price premium of 10 to 20 per cent and a smooth passage through the EU's stringent quality and safety inspections.

The four companies received the EU Flower in 2007 as a result

of a pilot project on the part of the THTI, the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre Thailand, Kasetsart University and the Danish Technological Institute, funded by the European Delegation to Thailand's Small Project Facility.