Negative impact of textile built-up sector on energy & water utilization
14 Jun '06
3 min read
China should give fresh consideration to textiles recycling and its beneficial impact on resource conservation, it was argued at the BIR Textiles Division meeting in Beijing by Rainer Binger of FWS GmbH & Co. KG, Germany.
The Asian giant appeared to have developed an almost insatiable appetite for all secondary raw materials - with the notable exception of textiles. And yet expansion of the country's textiles manufacturing sector entailed a substantial negative impact on energy and water consumption.
Mr Binger told delegates: 'China will have to look at textiles recycling and fibre recovery for the manufacture of new clothing if it wishes to maintain its prime position in global trade. We are prepared to help you and to help generate this market in China.'
Divisional President Frithjof W. Schepke of Schepke Konzepte, also of Germany, underlined the need for a continuing improvement in the quality of Chinese textiles and for the return - 'without protectionist measures' - of used textiles. It was important, he added, that the Chinese market opened up 'for our sorted and unsorted second-hand clothing exports'.
In the market report section of the meeting, Terry Ralph of Terimpex Ltd spoke of 'unprecedented demand' in the UK. Large volumes picked up by 'legal and illegal” collectors were being sold directly and unsorted to new EU countries and other Baltic states. 'This is taking goods from the British markets, thus further reducing the quantities sorted in the UK,' he said.
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