With gradual improvement of the performance of new fiber materials, a decline in cost through industrialization and large-scale application of these new fiber materials is an important basis for innovation. The gradual maturation of recycling technologies for plastic bottles and textile wastes not only significantly slashes material costs, but also reduces resource consumption and pollution emissions. The application ratio of recycled materials in geotextiles, luggage accessories, automotive compressed baffles, heating insulation materials and other industrial textiles will continue to expand, which will push the development of low-carbon environmentally protective industrial textiles.

Keys for 2011 and beyond

Chinese leaders in government, trade associations and manufacturing must continue to work together, plan for and promote growth within the industry. Within this process, industrial textiles companies will play a significant supporting role. Production processes, product standards and application requirements should connect with design and construction.

Agricultural textiles, for example, are the focus of development for the Chinese government’s initiative known as the “Twelfth Five-Year Guideline” (2011–2015). As the population increases, high-tech agricultural textiles should be supplied to guarantee that adequate food supplies can satisfy basic needs. Currently, agricultural textiles are widely applied in many fields, such as insulation, soilless culture, vertical green, pest control and more. Agricultural-release materials are used in a variety of crops as well as in fruit trees. And the light and durable water-saving irrigation, water-harvesting and water-storage materials also have a broad market.

Looking ahead, as the complexity and diversity of the industrial fabrics industry continues to build in China, the need for innovation remains critical. The wide range of applications and consumer and industrial products produced by the industry will create substantial market potentials for China.