When nonwoven fabric output surpassed 9 million tons for the first time and Lyocell fiber supply-demand grew nearly 40% annually for two consecutive years, bio-based materials have ceased to be a laboratory concept and are now a hard variable reshaping the textile supply chain. The 2026 Bio-based Chemical Fiber and Raw Material Industry Chain Collaborative Innovation Development Conference held in Changshu, Jiangsu, gathered academicians, university experts, and leading enterprises, sending a clear signal: bio-based fibers are moving from 'technologically feasible' to 'market feasible,' a process that will profoundly affect procurement logic and trade patterns over the next three to five years.
Background
The conference disclosed multiple data points outlining the explosive growth curve of the bio-based fiber industry. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's bio-based fibers achieved leapfrog growth. Entering the 15th Five-Year Plan, the industry will focus on achieving domestic large-scale production of key monomers such as high-purity lactic acid, lactide, and furandicarboxylic acid. This means that core raw materials that have long relied on imports are expected to achieve self-sufficiency, fundamentally changing the cost structure. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in large-capacity continuous polymerization and melt direct spinning technologies, along with domestic substitution of key equipment, are paving the way for ten-thousand-ton production lines.
Raw material diversification is another clear theme. Non-grain biomass resources such as straw, corncob, Juncao, and bamboo are repeatedly emphasized, not only as an environmental consideration to reduce dependence on petroleum-based raw materials but also as a strategic layout for supply chain security. When raw material sources shift from single to multiple, textile enterprises' procurement bargaining power and risk resistance will be substantially enhanced. The full-chain research system of 'mechanism tracing, technological breakthrough, application and standards' proposed by Academician Cheng Bowen provides a methodological framework for the transformation from laboratory to factory.
Industry Impact
The large-scale application of bio-based fibers is changing the competitive dimensions of the end market. The judgment of Zhang Qian, director of the Planning and Research Division of the Industry Department of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, is worth pondering: green development has evolved from an environmental issue to a survival issue for market access. This means that for export-oriented enterprises, carbon footprint accounting and bio-based content testing are no longer bonus points but tickets to international markets. Enterprises that establish green supply chains first will gain an advantage under green trade rules in Europe and elsewhere.
From a segment perspective, the high-speed growth of Lyocell fiber is the most representative. The nearly 40% annual growth in supply and demand over the past two years reflects strong downstream demand for green fibers but also exposes potential contradictions between capacity expansion and quality stability. The association's 'Excellent Fiber Selection' project, through traceability systems and carbon footprint disclosure mechanisms, attempts to maintain quality standards amid rapid growth. Meanwhile, nonwoven output surpassing 9 million tons, with the rapid expansion of disposable hygiene products and wiping materials markets, makes biodegradable raw materials a new hotspot. The exploration of PLA-based nanofibers in intelligent wound dressings, wearable sensors, and other fields opens high-value-added tracks such as healthcare.
For enterprises, choosing the right technology route is crucial. Xinxiang Chemical Fiber's ionic liquid method achieves non-derivatized green dissolution of cellulose, with the 'Shousaier' thousand-ton production line running stably, proving the feasibility of new processes. Yisheng New Materials optimizes PLA fiber strength through copolymerization and blending modifications, covering fields such as 3D printing. Jiangsu Sanlian New Materials' bio-based polyester filament focuses on functional directions like cooling. These cases show that competition in bio-based fibers has shifted from a single environmental attribute to an integrated competition of 'appearance, performance, and sustainability.'