The development of the global chemical fiber industry aims at sustainability

At the 29th China International Chemical Fiber Conference and the 10th China Carbon Valley Carbon Fiber Industry Conference held from September 26 to 27, "sustainable" has become a high-frequency word in the mouth of chemical fiber industry experts in various countries. They agreed that sustainable development is both a challenge and an opportunity, and the global chemical fiber industry should work together to promote the prosperity of the industry.

Duan Xiaoping, vice president of the China Textile Industry Federation, believes that the sustainable development of the chemical fiber industry should be divided into three aspects: sustainable supply and demand, sustainable science and technology, and green sustainable. In terms of sustainable supply and demand, with the improvement of quality of life, the demand for chemical fiber will further expand. In terms of science and technology sustainability, the process of functional and differentiated development of chemical fiber products has always been accompanied by technological iteration and upgrading, and science and technology has also made chemical fiber gain comparative advantages in competition with natural fibers. In terms of green sustainability, carbon peak, energy saving and emission reduction, green energy, recycling, and traceability have become the key words for the development of chemical fiber industry. In the future, the chemical fiber industry should not only establish a textile recycling and reuse system, but also pay attention to energy saving and emission reduction in the production process.

"Sustainable development is a priority for the EU, now and in the future. The European chemical fiber industry has been actively responding to this issue through innovation, transformation and reform." Frederic Van Houte, Director general of the European Man-made Fibers Association, said that Europe's sustainable and circular textiles strategy includes three directions: sustainable development, the road to transformation, and trade policy review. Sustainable development refers to the EU Green Deal, the Path to Transformation refers to improving the adaptability of the industry and optimizing the industrial ecosystem, and the Trade Policy Review refers to the new global trade agenda. In addition, the key actions of the EU circular textiles Strategy also include the Sustainable Product Eco-Design Regulation, according to which the relevant units can take sustainable production and consumption actions, waste recycling actions, etc. He also believes that the circular economy will promote the transformation of development methods and the birth of new business models, and textile strategies will affect all fiber and textile companies in the European market. Due to the complexity and interconnectedness of the supply chain structure, international cooperation is crucial for the chemical fiber industry.

Fuji Kenichi, executive vice president and chairman of the Japan Chemical Fiber Association, said that the Japanese textile industry has been committed to sustainable development for a long time, and has actively carried out a number of work to help build a textile recycling system and establish environmental protection fiber standards. "To achieve a circular economy and sustainable development, the global textile supply chain needs to take proactive action." Fuji Kenichi believes that the textile industry should establish a traceability system covering the world, promote the sharing of information among enterprises in various countries, and carry out joint actions on sustainable development, which is of great significance for the coordination of national policies, regulations and the formulation of relevant international standards.

Zheng Changhoon, director of the Business Policy Office of the Korea Chemical Fiber Association and Secretary general of the Carbon Neutral Center of the Korean Textile Industry, said that the Korean carbon emission trading system has a lot of impact on the development of the Korean chemical fiber industry. At the same time, new global trade rules around the theme of carbon are increasing, and a carbon-neutral oriented economic order and market environment are gradually taking shape. The Korea Carbon Neutral Council was established in May 2021, and in August of that year announced the "Carbon Neutral Draft 2050", which initially formed a minimum level of carbon emissions by completely ending the use of fossil fuel power generation, increasing the supply of zero-emission vehicles, and supplying green hydrogen; Two carbon-neutral options to minimize carbon emissions by stopping the use of coal for power generation, supplying extracted hydrogen and by-product hydrogen, and actively using carbon capture technology. The Korean textile industry will actively participate in carbon neutral actions to promote sustainable development of the industry.

Mayuree Didpakdeechol, honorary president of the Thai Man-made Fiber Industry Association, said Thailand has set clear sustainable development goals: peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, strive to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the second half of the 21st century, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2065. She also said that in Thailand, the chemical fiber industry has many development opportunities in the application of high-performance materials such as high-end automotive, aerospace, health and hygiene, safety textiles and sporting goods. In order to promote the green transformation of the chemical fiber industry, Thailand has actively adopted measures to promote green manufacturing labels and promote green manufacturing technology. In the future, Thailand will adopt measures to achieve carbon neutrality such as developing a carbon neutral society roadmap, climate change performance index, carbon footprint reduction label, carbon footprint tracking, and global sustainability disclosure standards, and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with the chemical fiber industry of various countries to jointly promote global sustainable development.