Supporting Key Sustainability Goals in China’s Textile Industry at CIIE

We confirmed several major advancements in sustainability with key players in China's textile industry at the 7^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held on November 6, 2024. We presented certifications and signed sustainability agreements that reinforce the industry’s commitment to eco-friendly practices with leading organizations such as Transfar, Shenghong, Huanyu Technology and Bananain.

Carol Chen, Senior Director, Softlines, presented the first SGS green mark bio-based content certificate for a polyester FDY oil product in China to Transfar, along with several ZDHC MRSL Level 3 certifications. These validations reflect Transfar’s commitment to reducing environmental impact and transitioning to more sustainable production practices. Additionally, Chen and Shengpeng Wang, Vice President of Transfar, signed a letter of intent on cooperation over the EcoVadis solution and finalized a comprehensive sustainability agreement to align Transfar’s operations with global standards for chemical and hazardous substance management.

Highlighting innovations in carbon capture, Sandy Hao, President at SGS, China, presented Min Qian, Deputy General Manager of Jiangsu Shenghong Chemical Fiber New Materials Marketing Department, with a Life Cycle Assessment Verification for Shenghing’s new low-carbon polyester fiber, made possible by the world's first carbon capture polyester production line. This certification supports Shenghong’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality and underscores our role in verifying eco-conscious solutions and technological advancements.

Dr. Eric Wang, Global Deputy Technical Director, Softlines, awarded Dr Andi Tao, CEO of Huanyu Technology, with a resource efficiency verification statement for its proprietary TDSD^® dyeing process. This significantly cuts water, energy and chemical use, and represents a significant leap forward in sustainable textile production by enabling measurable reductions in carbon emissions.

Ms Poiling Zang, Vice President of Bananain, signed a joint letter of intent for sustainable strategy cooperation with Jeaf Su, Director, Connectivity & Products, China Domestic Market Department, while also receiving a carbon footprint verification statement for Bananain’s plastic-reducing paper from Charles Ly Wa Hoï, Executive Vice President, Connectivity & Products and Health & Nutrition. This eco-friendly packaging material reduces carbon emissions in comparison to traditional plastic film paper. It represents a milestone in the brand’s ‘Green Plan’ initiative, which aims to foster sustainable production and environmental stewardship.

Several important trends impacting the textile industry were highlighted at the 7^th CIIE, including the increasing focus on sustainability, the critical need for verification of claims, regulatory compliance and technological innovation. The industry is proactively addressing carbon emission reduction with strategies across multiple fields, such as cleaner energy usage, improved equipment efficiency and the adoption of low-carbon processes. Additionally, carbon capture and storage are now hot topics, particularly carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), which involves separating CO₂from industrial processes, energy utilization and the atmosphere, and directly utilizing or injecting it into geological formations to achieve a permanent CO₂ reduction. Discussions at the 7^th CIIE emphasized the importance of third-party verification in supporting the transition to a greener, circular economy, preventing greenwashing by ensuring transparency and compliance with ISO standards for credible environmental claims.

As a world leader in certification, we continue to support the textile industry’s sustainable transformation by offering cutting-edge validation services that align with international environmental standards and foster long-term eco-innovation.