The carbon emission intensity of the textile industry has significantly decreased

The reporter recently learned from the China National Textile and Apparel Council that the average carbon emission intensity of the textile and apparel industry has decreased by more than 14% in the past two years, and the pace of green development in the industry has accelerated.

Sun Ruizhe, President of the China Textile Industry Federation, introduced that China's textile industry has developed and systematically promoted "carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth" from end of pipe treatment to full chain optimization, from linear consumption to circular utilization. From 2005 to 2022, the industry's carbon emission intensity has decreased by more than 60%.

The quality of low-carbon transformation in the textile and clothing industry has improved, and the carbon emission intensity has continued to decline, "said Yan Yan, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council. In the past two years, the average emission intensity of textile enterprises has decreased by more than 14%, and brand enterprises have performed more outstandingly, with a decrease of 18%.

According to the feasibility study report on decarbonization and renewable energy investment in China's textile industry released by institutions such as the China Textile Information Center, China's textile fiber processing volume accounts for more than 50% of the global total, and the annual carbon emissions of the textile industry account for about 2% of the country's total carbon emissions. The industry's carbon emissions mainly come from energy use. Therefore, the "Fashion Climate Innovation 30-60 Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Plan" promoted by the China Textile Industry Federation includes green electricity as one of the core carbon reduction paths.

According to a survey conducted by enterprises on the 4th anniversary of the implementation of the "Fashion Climate Innovation 30-60 Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Plan", the average proportion of green electricity in the total electricity consumption of enterprises has increased from 8% in 2022 to 23% currently. Enterprises included in the "Fashion Climate Innovation 30-60 Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Plan" from 2022 to 2024 have reduced their carbon emission intensity by more than 14%.

Sun Ruizhe stated that the green development of China's textile industry is undergoing significant changes. In addition to the continuous expansion of the proportion of green electricity usage, traditional waste is being reintroduced into the production cycle through advanced depolymerization technology, chemical recycling technology, and biotransformation technology. The development of new materials is also reducing dependence on traditional petrochemical raw materials.

Promoting the transformation of specialized, refined, unique, and new small and medium-sized enterprises towards green and low-carbon development is of great practical significance for helping the textile industry and even the country achieve the carbon peak goal. Guo Hongjun, Director of the Industry Development Department of the China Textile Industry Federation and Vice President of the China Textile Planning and Research Institute, stated that specialized, refined, unique, and new enterprises can focus on key areas and technologies in the process of industry green and low-carbon transformation, such as green and low-carbon fiber material technology, spinning technology, printing and dyeing technology, and recycling of waste textiles, promoting the collaborative participation of upstream and downstream enterprises in green and low-carbon development, and promoting the green transformation of the industrial chain and supply chain.

Currently, the carbon neutrality of the textile industry is facing many challenges, "said Chao Qingchen, director of the National Climate Center. The supply chain of the textile industry is long and scattered, and the emission reduction capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises is limited; The high cost and insufficient scale of recycled materials require improvement in consumer acceptance; The carbon emission accounting standards for the textile industry are not unified. The textile industry should promote energy structure optimization, promote the application of recycled materials, innovate in bio based and circular technologies, establish a full lifecycle carbon management system, and engage in cross industry cooperation.

Sun Ruizhe suggested that the textile industry should promote carbon footprint accounting for the entire industry chain from fibers to finished garments; Promote green technology standards such as sustainable fibers, ecological dyes, and water-saving processes; Build an environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) innovation system that covers the entire chain, and promote the transformation of corporate carbon reduction practices into tradable "carbon assets". In addition, we should give full play to the leading role of leading enterprises and promote the coordinated emission reduction of the industrial chain; Strengthen technological innovation in key areas such as green fiber, waterless and low water printing and dyeing, and recycling of waste textiles, and accelerate the industrial application of cutting-edge green technology.

We need to build an innovative community with complementary advantages, shared risks, and shared benefits. We need to promote pragmatic global cooperation and optimize industrial layout. Sun Ruizhe said that the textile industry should explore the construction of a stable and efficient cross-border textile recycling system.