According to data released by the China Chemical Fiber Industry Association (CCFIA) at the expo, the output of green chemical fiber products in China reached 18.2 million tons in the first three quarters of 2024, accounting for 32% of the total chemical fiber output, a year-on-year increase of 8.5 percentage points. This growth is mainly driven by the mass production of recycled polyester fibers and bio-based chemical fibers, which have become the core track for industry upgrading.
A leading chemical fiber enterprise, East China Textile Materials Co., Ltd., unveiled its latest research achievement at the expo: a new type of recycled nylon fiber made from post-consumer plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets. Unlike traditional recycled fibers that often face issues of low strength and uneven color fastness, this new material has passed international certification for tensile strength and durability, with its performance reaching or even exceeding that of virgin nylon fibers.
“We have invested over 200 million yuan in R&D over the past two years to tackle the technical bottlenecks of recycled fiber purification and spinning,” said Li Ming, chief technology officer of East China Textile Materials. “The new recycled nylon fiber can be widely applied in outdoor apparel, automotive interiors and marine engineering fabrics. At present, we have received orders from three international sportswear brands, with a preliminary cooperation volume of 5,000 tons.”
In addition to recycled materials, bio-based chemical fibers are also emerging as a key growth driver. South China Bio-Fiber Tech, another industry player, launched its second-generation bio-based polyester fiber derived from plant starch at the expo. This material is fully biodegradable under industrial composting conditions and has lower carbon emissions throughout its life cycle compared to petroleum-based polyester.
“Our bio-based fiber has reduced carbon footprint by 62% compared with traditional polyester,” noted Wang Yue, CEO of South China Bio-Fiber Tech. “We have established a complete industrial chain from starch extraction to fiber spinning, and the production cost has been reduced by 30% compared with the first-generation products, making it more competitive in the mass market.”
Industry experts pointed out that the chemical fiber industry is entering a critical period of green transformation. With the implementation of global carbon neutrality targets and the strengthening of environmental regulations, enterprises that can achieve a balance between sustainability and product performance will gain a competitive edge.
“While the industry is making remarkable progress in green innovation, there are still challenges such as high initial R&D costs and imperfect recycling systems,” said Zhang Wei, a senior analyst at China Textile Economic Research Center. “It requires joint efforts from enterprises, the government and the whole industry chain to promote the large-scale application of green chemical fibers and realize the high-quality development of the sector.”
The expo also hosted a roundtable forum on the future of chemical fiber materials, where representatives from over 50 enterprises and research institutions discussed standards for green chemical fiber certification and the construction of a circular economy system, laying a foundation for further collaboration in the industry.