Green transformation of the textile industry: How to achieve sustainable production and environmental protection goals?

Green transformation of the textile industry: How to achieve sustainable production and environmental protection goals?
With the increasing severity of global climate change and the continuous strengthening of environmental awareness, green transformation has become an important trend in the development of the textile industry. As the world's second largest polluting industry, the negative impact of the textile industry in terms of resource consumption, waste discharge and water resource utilization has attracted widespread attention. With the deepening of the concept of sustainable development, the green transformation of the textile industry is not only related to the protection of the ecological environment, but also to the future development of the industry and the competitiveness of enterprises.
1. Environmental impact of the textile industry
The environmental impact of the textile industry can be viewed from multiple dimensions:
1.1 Resource consumption
In the textile production process, the extraction, processing, dyeing, and finishing of raw materials consume a lot of energy and water resources. According to statistics, it takes about 10,000 liters of water to produce 1 ton of cotton, while it takes about 4,000 liters of water to produce 1 ton of synthetic fiber. This means that the resource consumption of the textile industry in the production process is very large. Especially in the cotton planting stage, the large-scale use of water and pesticides often leads to water waste and land degradation.
1.2 Waste discharge
Dyeing, printing, finishing and other processes are the most polluting links in textile production. In these processes, a large number of chemicals are used, including dyes, auxiliaries, solvents, etc. Wastewater, waste gas and solid waste emissions not only pollute water sources, air and soil, but also pose a threat to human health. In addition, the production of textiles also involves a large amount of plastic fibers (such as polyester), which are difficult to degrade, leading to an increasingly serious problem of microplastics in the environment.

1.3 Carbon emissions
The energy consumption of the textile industry mainly comes from chemical production, spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing. In particular, in many parts of the world, textile factories generally use fossil fuels (such as coal and natural gas) for production, which makes the textile industry one of the important sources of greenhouse gas emissions. According to statistics, carbon emissions from the textile industry account for about 10% of the world's total emissions, and effective measures are urgently needed to reduce carbon footprints.
2. The necessity of green transformation
Green transformation is not only an inevitable choice for the textile industry to cope with global climate change and environmental problems, but also an important strategy for enterprises to enhance their market competitiveness and achieve long-term development.
2.1 Promotion of regulations and policies
Countries around the world are paying more and more attention to environmental protection. Many countries have introduced more stringent environmental protection regulations, requiring enterprises to reduce pollution and improve resource utilization efficiency. For example, the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan requires textiles to meet sustainable design and recyclable standards. China is also promoting green manufacturing, proposing the 13th Five-Year Green Development Plan and the 14th Five-Year Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Work Plan, and encouraging enterprises to carry out green technology innovation.
2.2 Changes in consumer demand
With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, more and more consumers are beginning to pay attention to the impact of the products they buy on the environment. Green and sustainable textiles, especially clothing made of natural, organic, and environmentally friendly materials, have gradually become a new trend in fashion consumption. Consumers not only want to buy high-quality products, but also hope that their sources and production processes meet environmental standards. This change has driven textile brands and companies to accelerate the pace of green transformation.
2.3 Corporate brand image and market competition
Green transformation is not only a need to respond to environmental regulations, but also an effective way to enhance brand image and market competitiveness. More and more companies are beginning to realize that green development can not only reduce environmental burdens, but also increase consumer recognition and enhance brand loyalty. Those companies that perform well in environmental protection are more likely to gain the favor of consumers, thereby increasing market share.
3. Paths to green transformation in the textile industry
To achieve green transformation, the textile industry needs to start from multiple aspects to promote the sustainable development of the entire industry chain.
3.1 Application of green raw materials
Green raw materials are the first step to achieve green transformation in the textile industry. Taking natural fibers as an example, the use of green materials such as organic cotton, bamboo fiber, and hemp fiber to replace traditional cotton and synthetic fibers is an important measure to promote sustainable production. Unlike traditional agriculture, organic agriculture can reduce land pollution and water pollution by reducing or not using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
In addition, recycled regenerated fibers have gradually become a popular choice in the textile industry. For example, the recycling of PET bottles can produce recycled polyester fibers, which can not only reduce dependence on virgin resources, but also effectively reduce the accumulation of waste plastics.
3.2 Water-saving technology and water pollution control
The efficient use of water resources and pollution control are key issues in the green transformation of the textile industry. In order to reduce water consumption, many textile companies are adopting water recycling systems to filter, purify and recycle wastewater through advanced water treatment technologies to achieve the purpose of saving water and reducing pollution.
In the dyeing process, traditional dyeing methods usually require a lot of water and chemicals, while "waterless dyeing technology" provides an environmentally friendly alternative for the textile industry. Using carbon dioxide supercritical dyeing technology, dyeing can be carried out without water, reducing water consumption and reducing wastewater discharge.
3.3 Green production process
The green transformation of the textile industry is inseparable from the innovation of green production technology. In the dyeing, printing and finishing process, it has become a consensus among textile companies to use non-toxic and harmless dyes and chemicals and avoid the use of harmful substances. For example, the use of natural plant dyes instead of traditional chemical dyes can not only reduce pollution to the environment, but also provide consumers with healthier products.
At the same time, the emergence of digital printing technology also provides a more environmentally friendly option for the textile industry. Compared with traditional screen printing, digital printing can not only reduce the waste of dyes, but also realize small batch production and personalized customization, avoiding overproduction and waste of resources in traditional production.
3.4 Energy efficiency improvement and green energy
Improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions is another important way to achieve green transformation. Textile companies can improve production efficiency and reduce energy consumption by introducing automation equipment and intelligent manufacturing technology. At the same time, gradually eliminating traditional high-pollution energy and turning to clean energy such as solar energy and wind energy is also an important means to achieve carbon neutrality goals.
In this process, many textile companies have begun to adopt green energy alternatives. For example, some companies have installed solar photovoltaic power generation equipment, and some factories have begun to use renewable energy for production. Through these measures, not only can greenhouse gas emissions be reduced, but also the long-term operating costs of enterprises can be reduced.
3.5 Circular Economy and Waste Recycling
Achieving a circular economy is an important way for the green transformation of the textile industry. By establishing a complete recycling system, textiles can be recycled, reused or reproduced after their life cycle, reducing resource waste.
At present, many textile brands have begun to explore "product recycling" plans to encourage consumers to return old clothes to stores for recycling and reuse. For example, brands such as Patagonia have launched old clothes recycling plans to transform discarded clothes into new products, which not only reduces the generation of waste, but also extends the life cycle of products.
4. Conclusion
The green transformation of the textile industry is a complex and long-term project that requires the joint efforts of the government, enterprises and consumers. In the process of achieving green transformation, enterprises should not only pay attention to the upgrading of production processes and the efficient use of resources, but also integrate green concepts into global supply chain management. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the improvement of consumers' green awareness, the textile industry will usher in a new development situation that is more sustainable, environmentally friendly and innovative.