China’s Massive Textile Production: A New Study Reveals the Scale and Environmental Impact

A new study reveals that in over 40 years, China has produced approximately 1 billion tons of textile fibers, a volume double the total body mass of the entire human population. The findings were published in the scientific journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling by researchers from Tsinghua University.

The study mapped the entire flow and stock of textile fibers in China from 1978 to 2022, a period of remarkable economic and social growth for the country. The results show that China transformed from a closed economy into the “world’s factory,” fueling both domestic growth and providing low-cost clothing to consumers across continents. The textile industry is so large and complex that tracking its production, consumption, and environmental impact is incredibly difficult, especially in China, which accounts for more than half of the world’s textile volume.

The research team used a “dynamic material flow analysis” method to track the entire textile supply chain, from production and processing to use and waste disposal.

Professor Zhu Bing, the lead author of the study and Director of the Institute of Circular Economy at Tsinghua University, said this is the first time a research team has fully and detailedly calculated China’s entire textile supply chain. He stated that the large amount of data obtained will help more accurately assess recycling potential and support policy development.

Global textile fiber production has more than tripled, from 33 million tons in 1975 to 116 million tons in 2022, and is projected to increase by another 27% by 2030. In reality, the fashion industry faces severe environmental pressure, contributing 2-8% of global CO2 emissions and generating 92 million tons of waste in 2015 alone.

Textile fibers fall into three main groups: synthetic fibers from virgin polymers (sourced from petroleum or agricultural products), which emit significant CO2 and cause microplastic pollution during use; natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, wool, and silk, which consume vast amounts of land, water, and pesticides; and man-made cellulosic fibers, which are processed from natural cellulose through chemical treatment, often using toxic chemicals.

Last year, a group of UK scientists noted in the journal Environmental Science and Technology that the environmental impact of the fashion and textile industry is “extremely difficult to quantify” because the global supply chain is so vast and complex. Building a complete picture and effectively communicating it to the public will help raise awareness about sustainability.

Although many countries have promoted “circular fashion,” Professor Bing believes that the governance of the textile industry must be placed within a broader social and economic context.

“Society needs to oppose fast fashion while encouraging reasonable consumption and balancing international trade with the recycling and reuse of discarded textiles to achieve sustainability goals,” he said.

This study aims to “highlight the complexity of the system and provide a scientific basis for future policy-making,” and it recommends that policymakers “consider the entire supply chain and its links to many other industries.”

Source: Collected from the internet