Sustainable Development In Textile Industry And Carbon Footprint

Consumption of resources and non-renewable energy resources,negative impact caused by human activities to the biological system, are allthe unavoidable challenges we are facing now. The environmental pressuregiven by the textile industry is even more obvious. In the12th Five-YearPlan, down on CO2emission in the textile industry. Just because of that,many nations have made a series of policies in the purpose of pushing textileindustry to reduce the environmental impact in textile life cycle. Apparelbrands, distributors, retailers have gradually developed and implementedsustainable development strategies, action plans, and have required theirsupply chains to reduce the environmental footprint, and increase theenvironmental values of their products.Carbon footprint, as one of the environment indexes that are closelyrelated with greenhouse gas, which is in the purpose of quantifyinggreenhouse gas emission, has called attention from many governments,NGOs, buyers, enterprises and consumers. In China, with the trial of carbontrading, some of important industries with high energy consumption andhigh pollution have involved in carbon footprint projects. Especially someleading enterprises in textile industry have rapidly joined in carbonaccounting activities, with that they have become the leaders in low carboneconomic transition. And through the carbon footprint label, theycommunicate the environmental value with the outside world, and they areheld in the good graces in more consumers.With the background of globally calling for sustainable development,through international low carbon laws and regulations and marketingmechanism, such as introduction of carbon footprint label, cleanerproduction system, carbon trading system, etc., this thesis introduces the current opportunities and the challenges in low carbon economy of Chinatextile industry. And as the main tool for quantifying environment indexes,the carbon accounting is selected, and with examples accordingly, oncompanywide and product level, this thesis has introduced the content ofcarbon accounting, standards, steps and the final results. As the importantindustry in “The Twelfth Five-Year Guideline”, China textile industry hasbig opportunities in reduction of energy consumption, material anddischarging. If LCA can be used to measure carbon footprint in raw material,knitting and dyeing processes and finishing, the carbon emission in eachprocess can be understood, and with reduction of material and energyconsumption, also with the identification of most beneficial method ofdischarging reduction, the energy saving target of “the Twelfth Five-YearGuideline” of China textile industry can be smoothly achieved, which isalso the most important purpose and achievement of this thesis.Carbonaccounting in China has just started, and application of LCA and its softwarestill need assistance from international agencies and those who haveoverseas study experiences. Just because there are very few professionalagencies and people on carbon accounting, this thesis expects this as a breakthrough point, with more than5years’ experience on carbon accounting, tostate the carbon accounting in sustainable development of China textileindustry. As China is one of the global largest textile manufacturers and withthe multi-national corporations, retailors and brands pushing, we believe inthe near future, carbon accounting in China will be increasingly mature andwidespread. With the relationship between supplying and purchasing, thiswill generate quite impact to low-carbon transition of China textile industry,and also bring new opportunities for China textile on sustainabledevelopment.