China Printing and Dyeing Industry Association: Announcement of New Industry Access Conditions

Recently, the newly revised "Admission Requirements for the Printing and Dyeing Industry" have significantly raised the barriers to entry, imposing stricter standards on companies in this sector. The updated regulations now include more detailed criteria regarding corporate layout, process and equipment requirements, resource consumption, environmental protection, and the comprehensive utilization of resources. Shortly after, the State Council held an executive meeting, emphasizing the need to intensify efforts to meet the energy-saving and emission reduction targets set under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan. Through the first four years of the plan, the energy consumption per unit of GDP has decreased by 14.38%, but there remains a significant gap compared to the target of reducing it by 20%. In response, the State Council outlined eight key requirements to ensure that the energy-saving and emission-reduction goals are met with greater seriousness. To better understand these developments, a reporter recently interviewed experts from the China Printing and Dyeing Industry Association to discuss the industry’s current challenges and strategies. What are effective measures? Experts from the association noted that the printing and dyeing industry has made considerable progress in energy conservation and emissions reduction over the past three years. Improvements have been seen not only in technological processes but also in management practices. This shift is driven by both government mandates and the need for sustainable business growth. As a highly energy- and water-intensive sector, the industry has seen notable improvements in efficiency through energy-saving upgrades. For instance, the reuse rate of medium water has increased from 10% to 20%, with some leading companies achieving up to 50%. Since June 2007, the China Printing and Dyeing Industry Association, in collaboration with six provincial textile associations and 20 major printing and dyeing enterprises, launched an "Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Initiative." This initiative encouraged nationwide action to implement State Council regulations and fulfill energy-saving and emission-reduction obligations. From 2007 to 2009, the association released three batches of advanced technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing pollution. These included innovations in equipment, process technology, dyeing auxiliaries, waste steam treatment, and resource recycling. Technologies such as condensate cooling water reuse, light alkali recovery, rosin recovery, and sewage heat recovery have been widely adopted. One example is the "Dyeing and Printing Wastewater Treatment and Water Recycling Technology" used by Changzhou Dongxia Textile Printing and Dyeing Co., Ltd. This technology reduced the COD level in effluent from 1200 mg/L to 193 mg/L, and further to 36.85 mg/L after advanced treatment. With 50% of the treated water being reused, the company saves approximately 1,000 tons of water daily, reducing ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus by 241.5 tons annually. Consistent Theme Comparing the revised admission requirements between 2008 and 2010, new standards for energy consumption have been introduced. For newly built or expanded printing and dyeing projects, the comprehensive energy consumption for cotton, linen, chemical fiber, and blended fabrics must now be ≤35 kg of standard coal per 100 meters—up from 38 kg. Existing enterprises must also reduce their energy use, from ≤54 kg to ≤42 kg of standard coal per 100 meters. These revisions not only raise the bar for new entrants but also introduce specific, quantifiable targets for existing companies. As a result, all printing and dyeing firms must continue investing in energy-saving and emission-reduction initiatives. These efforts are not just compliance-driven but are essential for enhancing competitiveness, lowering costs, and increasing product value. Moreover, they promote cleaner production processes, reduce wastewater and pollutant discharge, and address environmental concerns at the source. Looking ahead, the printing and dyeing industry plays a crucial role in the broader textile sector, which is both capital- and technology-intensive. Energy-saving and emission-reduction measures are key to industrial transformation and upgrading. Ultimately, the success of this transition will depend on the quality of products. The industry's future lies in developing high-quality, innovative products through independent research and development. By focusing on product innovation and added value, the printing and dyeing sector can ensure long-term sustainability and growth.