Sun Huaibin: The Prospect Of Accelerating The Recycling Of Waste Textiles

In order to further accelerate the recycling of waste textiles, build a resource recycling industrial system and waste materials recycling system, and improve resource utilization efficiency, recently, the national development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of industry and information technology jointly issued the implementation opinions on accelerating the recycling of waste textiles (hereinafter referred to as the Implementation Opinions).

According to the implementation opinions, by 2025, the recycling system of waste textiles will be initially established, and the recycling capacity will be greatly improved. The recycling rate of waste textiles will reach 25%, and the output of recycled fibers from waste textiles will reach 2 million tons. By 2030, a relatively complete recycling system of waste textiles will be established, the recycling awareness of producers and consumers will be significantly improved, the high-value utilization ways will be continuously expanded, and the industrial development level will be significantly improved. The recycling rate of waste textiles will reach 30%, and the regenerated fiber output of waste textiles will reach 3 million tons.

"The implementation opinions will play an important role in improving the resource utilization efficiency of the textile industry, promoting the construction of ecological civilization, and helping to achieve the goal of carbon peak carbon neutralization." Sunhuaibin, vice president of China Textile Industry Federation, believes that taking the recycling of waste textiles as a breakthrough will help improve the recycling system of waste materials and improve the level of resource recycling. According to the implementation opinions, nine specific measures, including promoting the green design of textiles, encouraging the use of green fibers, improving the recycling network and promoting the development of recycling industry, are specified in the implementation opinions from three aspects of production, recycling and comprehensive utilization, "It aims at breaking through the blocking points and pain points in key links such as textile recycling, trading and circulation, fine sorting and comprehensive utilization, and emphasizes strengthening support and guarantee in standards and specifications, scientific and technological innovation and policy support, and strengthening organization and implementation in the aspects of overall coordination and typical guidance.".

China is the world's largest textile and clothing producer and consumer, with an annual fiber consumption of about 30 million tons and per capita fiber consumption of about 22.4 kg. "Due to the restriction of recycling system, sorting method, technology and standards, China's recycled fiber raw materials are mainly PET bottle pieces and industrial textile waste. The number of used clothing fabrics from urban and rural residents is small, and the overall recycling efficiency of waste textiles is low." Sun Huaibin said that with the global fashion industry achieving the goal of replacing recycled materials by 2030, the demand for recycled fiber raw materials will grow rapidly in the future. It is urgent to improve the recycling rate of waste textiles and the output of recycled fibers, build a recycling system of waste textile resources, and promote the development of related industries.

"The Implementation Opinions also point out the direction for the construction of resource recycling system in textile industry." Sun Huaibin believes that the first is to promote green low-carbon production in the textile industry and encourage textile enterprises to carry out green design; Develop guidelines for textile material classification to improve the efficiency and accuracy of waste textile sorting. Second, encourage textile enterprises to give priority to the use of green fiber raw materials, and strengthen the construction of green product standards, certification and identification system; Guide and support textile enterprises, especially brand enterprises, to use recycled fibers and their products, and promote the high value utilization of waste textiles. Third, strengthen the social responsibility of textile producers and encourage enterprises to implement the social responsibility management system (CSC9000T) of China's textile and garment enterprises.

Some progress has been made in the development of waste textiles recycling industry in China. During the 13th Five Year Plan period, the scale of enterprises has been improved continuously. "During this period, 34 recycled polyester production enterprises have passed the industry standard conditions evaluation of the Ministry of industry and information technology, and formed a number of typical industrial clusters." Sun Huaibin said.

Nevertheless, sun Huaibin said that at present, the industrial chain and value chain of China's waste textile recycling industry are not complete. "The sorting of waste textiles is mainly based on traditional manual identification, and the medium and high-end complete sets of equipment for sorting, opening and recycling basically rely on imports.".

For this reason, the implementation opinions clearly delineated the next development path of recycling and high-value utilization of waste textiles. The first is to promote the high-value development of waste textile recycling products, and support waste textile utilization enterprises to develop and produce high value-added products. The second is to promote the application of recycled products of waste textiles in construction materials, automobile interior and exterior decoration, agriculture, environmental management and other fields, and encourage the standardized fuel utilization of waste textiles that cannot be recycled. The third is to implement the key breakthrough of standard clothing, select key areas and key areas, organize and carry out the recycling pilot of waste standard clothing, optimize the technical path and market-oriented mechanism of centralized recycling, and improve the recycling rate of uniform tooling and school uniform of uniform department, industry.

"China Textile Industry Federation will conscientiously implement the relevant requirements of the implementation opinions, cooperate with relevant departments to carry out the recommendation of advanced technology, technology and equipment catalogue for comprehensive utilization of waste textile resources, strengthen the industrial transformation of recycled polyester staple fiber, filament melt blown and regenerated cellulose fiber technology, and improve the level of high-value utilization of waste textiles." Sun Huaibin said.

(source: Economic Daily)