Recently, reporters learned from the China National Textile and Apparel Council that, over the past two years, the average carbon emission intensity in the textile and apparel industry has decreased by more than 14%, marking a significant acceleration in the industry's green development efforts.

Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, introduced that China's textile industry has shifted from end-of-pipe treatment to full-chain optimization and from linear consumption to circular utilization, systematically advancing efforts toward "carbon reduction, pollution mitigation, green expansion, and growth." From 2005 to 2022, the industry's carbon emission intensity decreased by more than 60%.

Yan Yan, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, stated: "The textile and apparel industry has continuously improved the quality of its low-carbon transformation, with carbon emission intensity steadily declining. Over the past two years, the average emission intensity among textile enterprises has dropped by more than 14%, with brand-name companies demonstrating particularly impressive performance, achieving a reduction of up to 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 National Textile Information Center, China accounts for more than 50% of the world's total textile fiber processing volume. Meanwhile, the textile industry contributes approximately 2% of the nation's annual carbon emissions, with energy consumption being the primary source of these emissions. In response, the "Fashion Climate Innovation 30-60 Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Program," spearheaded by the China National Textile and Apparel Council, identifies green electricity as one of the core pathways toward reducing carbon emissions.

According to the four-year survey conducted as part of the company's "Fashion Climate Innovation 30-60 Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Program," the average share of green electricity in the companies' total energy consumption has risen from 8% in 2022 to 23% currently. Meanwhile, enterprises that joined the "Fashion Climate Innovation 30-60 Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Program" between 2022 and 2024 have achieved a reduction in carbon emission intensity exceeding 14%.

Sun Ruizhe stated that China's textile industry is undergoing a significant transformation toward green development. In addition to the continuous increase in the proportion of green electricity usage, traditional waste materials are now being reintroduced into the production cycle through advanced depolymerization technologies, chemical recycling techniques, and bioconversion methods. Meanwhile, the development of new materials is steadily reducing reliance on conventional petrochemical feedstocks.

Promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs is of significant practical importance in helping the textile industry—and indeed the entire nation—achieve its carbon peak targets. Guo Hongjun, Director of the Industry Development Department at the China National Textile and Apparel Council and Deputy Dean of the China Textile Planning Institute, emphasized that these specialized, niche, and innovative enterprises can play a pivotal role in driving the industry's green and low-carbon transition by focusing on key areas and critical technologies, such as green and low-carbon fiber materials, spinning technologies, dyeing and finishing techniques, and the recycling and reuse of waste textiles. By fostering collaboration among upstream and downstream enterprises, these companies can collectively advance green and low-carbon development, thereby facilitating the greening of both the industrial chain and supply chain.

"Currently, the textile industry's journey toward carbon neutrality is facing numerous challenges," stated Cao Qingchen, Director of the National Climate Center. The textile industry boasts a long and fragmented supply chain, with small- and medium-sized enterprises having limited capacity to reduce emissions. Meanwhile, the high cost and insufficient scale of recycled materials remain significant barriers, while consumer acceptance still needs improvement. Additionally, standardized methods for calculating carbon emissions in the textile sector have yet to be unified. To address these issues, the textile industry should prioritize optimizing its energy structure, accelerate the adoption and promotion of recycled materials, actively innovate bio-based and circular technologies, establish comprehensive lifecycle carbon management systems, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.

Sun Ruizhe suggests that the textile industry should promote full-chain carbon footprint accounting, spanning from fibers to finished garments; advance green technology standards such as sustainable fibers, eco-friendly dyes, and water-saving processes; and establish an innovative Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework covering the entire value chain, transforming corporate carbon reduction efforts into tradable "carbon assets." Additionally, leading enterprises should play a pivotal role in driving collaborative emission reductions across the industry chain. At the same time, it is crucial to strengthen technological innovation in key areas such as green fibers, water-free and low-water dyeing technologies, and the recycling of used textiles, thereby accelerating the industrial application of cutting-edge green technologies.

We need to build an innovative community characterized by complementary advantages, shared risks, and mutual benefits. At the same time, we must promote pragmatic global cooperation and optimize industrial layouts. Sun Ruizhe emphasized that the textile industry should actively explore the establishment of a stable and efficient cross-border textile recycling system.