When lyocell fiber supply and demand have maintained a nearly 40% annual growth for two consecutive years and nonwoven output has surpassed 9 million tons for the first time, bio-based fibers are no longer a lab concept but a real capacity race. Yet on this track, the localization rate of key monomers and the lack of standards are becoming more daunting hurdles than the technology itself.
Event Background
The 2026 symposium on collaborative innovation and development of the bio-based chemical fiber and raw material industry chain was recently held in Changshu, Jiangsu, bringing together representatives from industry associations, universities, and enterprises to review the current state and future path.靳高岭, vice president of the China Chemical Fibers Association, revealed that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's bio-based fibers achieved leapfrog growth. Looking toward the 15th Five-Year Plan, the industry will focus on advancing the localized, large-scale preparation of key monomers such as high-purity lactic acid, lactide, and furan dicarboxylic acid. This means that core raw materials previously imported will become a battleground for domestic enterprises in the next five years.
Meanwhile, feedstock diversification has been put on the agenda. Non-grain biomass resources such as straw, corncobs, Juncao, and bamboo are moving from the lab to industrialization. For textile companies, a broader feedstock base is not just about cost but also supply chain security—when international oil prices fluctuate or trade policies change, companies with diverse feedstock channels will be better positioned to withstand risks.
Industry Impact
Academician Cheng Bowen emphasized that bio-based materials are the material foundation for the green transformation of the textile industry, and reducing dependence on petroleum is an inevitable choice to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. His proposed full-chain research system of "mechanism tracing—technology breakthrough—application and standards" actually draws a clear priority for the industry: first solve basic scientific problems, then break through engineering technologies, and finally solidify achievements with standards. The implementation of this path will directly affect the pace of industrialization of green fibers in the next five to ten years.
Wang Huaping, a researcher at Donghua University, made an even more direct prediction: in the coming years, bio-based chemical fibers and biodegradable fiber materials will maintain a relatively high growth rate, and the share of green fibers in the overall structure will increase significantly. This means that for fabric buyers and brands, green fibers are no longer an option but will soon become a must-have category among mainstream suppliers. However, between "technically feasible" and "market feasible," there are still three hurdles: cost, performance, and certification.
Cui Meng, an associate professor at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, demonstrated applications such as polylactic acid-based smart wound dressings and wearable sensors, revealing the potential of bio-based fibers in high-value-added fields like medical and hygiene products. Once such applications mature, they will completely change the stereotype that bio-based materials are merely eco-friendly substitutes, offering factories higher profit margins. But it must be soberly recognized that these technologies are still in the laboratory or pilot stage and have a long way to go before scaled production.
Zhang Qian, director of the Planning and Research Division of the Industry Department of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, issued a warning: green development has evolved from an environmental issue to a market access survival issue. With international green trade rules becoming increasingly stringent, if companies fail to build competitiveness across the entire chain—green energy, green fibers, green chemicals—they may face the risk of losing orders in the future. In other words, low-carbon capability is transforming from a bonus item to a mandatory question.