As the 15th Five-Year Plan begins, green transformation in the textile industry is no longer a slogan but a survival rule. Public industry data shows that SMEs, accounting for over 90% of enterprises, are the key players. However, the path is not smooth: only about 30% of firms have conducted carbon inventories, and over 70% lack dual-carbon roadmaps, exposing short-term goals and weak carbon management.
Event Background
In mid-August, a technology matchmaking event focused on specialized and innovative development and green transformation was held in Xinxiang, Henan. Organized by the China Finance, Trade, Light Industry, and Textile Workers' Union and co-hosted by several institutions, the event brought together representatives from the China National Textile and Apparel Council, research institutes, specialized enterprises, and supply chain partners. The agenda centered on energy conservation, clean production, circular utilization, and green new materials. Xinxiang, as a highland for textile new materials in Central China, provided a realistic backdrop.
Research released at the event painted a portrait of specialized and innovative enterprises: there are 735 such firms, with an average operating history of 19 years, over half concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong, covering the entire chain from chemical fiber to printing and dyeing. Notably, 91% have invested in green initiatives, and 43% offer carbon-reducing products or services, with many high-end materials achieving import substitution. These figures indicate that specialized firms are not only innovation leaders but also pioneers in green transformation.
Industrial Impact
The urgency of green transformation was evident in technical sharing sessions. Xinxiang Chemical Fiber showcased its juncao fiber technology, a global first in applying juncao to biomass fibers, achieving a breakthrough from a single plant to a garment. This path reduces wood consumption, restores barren ecology, and fills gaps in domestic biomass fiber supply. Its full-chain traceability certification allows ecological value to convert into industrial value. For buyers, this means a new raw material option that is both eco-friendly and functional.
Another noteworthy technology is the multi-fiber precision intelligent blending equipment. Traditional blending processes have an accuracy of only 3%-6%, with color differences limiting high-end fabric production. The new equipment, using a process of pre-opening, airflow mixing, and double weighing closed-loop, controls blending errors within ±0.5%, adaptable to 0.5%-99% blending ratios. It has been applied at leading firms like Tianhong, Yueda, and Huamao. Behind this is the expectation that the domestic colored spun market will exceed 70 billion yuan by 2026. For factories, precision improvement directly translates to higher yield and added value.
However, the landing of technical achievements still faces systemic challenges. Surveys show that only about 30% of specialized firms have conducted carbon inventories, and over 70% lack dual-carbon roadmaps. This reveals a temperature difference in green transformation: head companies are accelerating, while many SMEs are still at the starting line. The path to zero-carbon factories is repeatedly emphasized—firms must first clarify their carbon baseline, then optimize through green processes and equipment, and simultaneously improve management systems to achieve synergy.