The Chinese textile industry stands at the threshold of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and a set of data paints a complex picture of green transformation: nearly 500 specialized and innovative SMEs have been cultivated, of which 91% have invested in green initiatives and 43% offer carbon-reducing products or services. However, a survey covering 148 enterprises shows that only about 30% have conducted carbon inventories, and over 70% lack dual-carbon roadmaps. This gap between green investment and carbon management is the chasm the industry must cross in the next five years.
Green Investment vs. Carbon Management Gap
Specialized and innovative SMEs have become the backbone of the industry's green transformation. There are currently 735 such textile enterprises, with an average operating history of 19 years. Over half are concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong, covering the entire chain from chemical fibers to dyeing and industrial textiles, with many high-end materials achieving import substitution. These enterprises not only have considerable scale but also have produced numerous innovations in green new materials, clean production, and recycling. Yet the survey also reveals shortcomings: emission reduction targets are short-term, and carbon management foundations are weak. This means that simply increasing green investment is insufficient to support transformation; systematic carbon accounting and strategic planning are key to the next phase.
Five Decarbonization Pathways and Technological Innovation
To address these challenges, industry research has outlined five decarbonization pathways: source substitution with green bio-based/recycled fibers, upgrading low-energy dyeing processes, distributed solar clean energy, digital energy and carbon management, and water and material recycling. These pathways are not isolated but require coordinated action. For example, traditional blending processes have an accuracy of only 3%-6%, leading to color differences and heavy reliance on labor, which restricts high-end fabric production. A new multi-fiber precision intelligent blending system, using a 'loosen-mix-airflow-double weighing' process, controls error to ±0.5% and can handle 0.5%-99% blending ratios. It has been adopted by leading mills, offering a replicable upgrade model for SMEs.
Green Fibers and Zero-Carbon Factories
In source substitution, the industrialization of juncao fiber is noteworthy. The world-first application of juncao to biomass fiber production reduces wood consumption, restores ecological wasteland, and fills domestic raw material gaps. In 2025, related enterprises obtained antibacterial fiber traceability certification, ensuring product traceability and verifiability. Meanwhile, zero-carbon factory construction is a key lever for manufacturing green transformation. Operationally, enterprises must systematically map carbon emissions across production, identify energy and material use, then optimize processes with green technologies and equipment, and improve internal management to build a full-chain low-carbon system.
Industrial Impact and Collaborative Needs
Green transformation has moved from 'optional' to 'mandatory', with ripple effects across the supply chain. For upstream chemical fiber producers, bio-based materials like juncao and polylactic acid will reshape raw material supply. For midstream dyeing and fabric mills, intelligent blending and low-energy processes mean cost and quality optimization. For downstream brands and buyers, traceable green products are becoming a new competitive advantage. But transformation cannot rely on individual companies; it requires collaborative innovation across the chain. The industry's climate action research project recommends building innovation consortia and public service platforms, with pioneering enterprises driving SME-wide dual-carbon transition.