Low-carbon environmental protection, new fashion in the textile industry

Glacier melting, sea level rise, greenhouse effect... Does climate warming have anything to do with our clothes, curtains, and sand releases?

"In 2017, the global textile industry produced greenhouse gas emissions of about 1.2 billion tons, which surpassed the global greenhouse gas emissions from international flights and shipping." At the 2019 Climate Innovation and Fashion Summit held recently, the Allen MacArthur Foundation China Fan Huaxing, head of the district's circular fashion project, provided data from the agency's research.

In the textile production and consumption process, from the selection of renewable materials, decarbonized production links, the use of water resources, the disposal of waste to the use of clothing, the exploration of sustainable business models, every step will affect carbon emissions. So as to have an impact on the climate. In 2018, China's total fiber processing was about 54.6 million tons, more than 50% of the global total fiber processing; China's textile and apparel exports amounted to US$276.73 billion, accounting for 35% of the world's total. The textile industry is duty-bound to achieve green development.

In recent years, China's textile industry has been committed to promoting the sustainable development of the industry. Li Ning Group implements the concept of sustainable development in supply chain materials, water resources utilization, waste disposal and other links. Through the construction of solar power plants in 2018, it not only reduces carbon emissions, but also saves more than 400,000 yuan in electricity costs. The "zero dyeing" dyeing technology adopted by Xintianyuan dyed yarn has reduced carbon emissions by 101,000 tons by the end of 2018 and saved 1.9 million tons of water.

Gao Yanmin, director of the Consumer Goods Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said: "In recent years, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has formulated "Industrial Green Development Plan (2016-2020)", "Textile Industry Development Plan (2016-2020)" and other policy documents , Vigorously support the traditional manufacturing industry including the textile industry to carry out green transformation and improve the industry's green development level."

The Development Plan for the Textile Industry (2016-2020) clearly states that by 2020, the cumulative value-added energy consumption per unit of the industrial enterprises above the designated size of the textile industry will drop by 18%, the cumulative CO2 emission intensity will decrease by 22%, and the water consumption will decrease by 23%. The total amount of recycled textile fibers reached 12 million tons.

"Climate change issues are changing the business environment and pattern of market competition, affecting the supply chain and market demand of enterprises. China attaches great importance to green development, and Chinese textile enterprises must clarify the development trends of the world, countries and industries in a changing situation, thus changing the situation Seize the opportunity and plan for the future." said Sun Ruizhe, president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council.

In fact, the concept of textile consumers is also quietly changing. Zhang Dachuan, chief content officer of WWD (International Fashion News), said that globally, although the total value of clothing that consumers can continue to wear every year is 460 billion US dollars, 80% of consumers believe that changing daily life Behavior and shopping habits are good ways to protect the environment.

The pursuit of sustainable development has also become a fashion. Survey data shows that 22% of Shanghai consumers are willing to spend more on environmental protection. Zhang Na, founder of Remanufacturing Bank, said: "We are redesigning old clothes to influence consumers, and then promote the emergence of real recycling products."