Economic role: a major employer with substantial exports.
Environmental Impact: The usage of chemicals, water, and greenhouse gases in traditional methods is harmful to the environment.
Sustainability efforts include government actions such as stricter rules, incentives for eco-tech, and the Green New Deal for net-zero emissions.
Industry changes include investments in waste treatment, energy efficiency, water recycling, and circular fashion.
Emerging trends include the use of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and biodegradable fabrics.
Climate characteristics:
- Humid continental/subtropical climate: There are four different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), each with big precipitation and harsh temperatures.
- Summer: hot and humid, with temperatures above 30 °C.
- Winter is very cold, with temperatures dropping below -20 °C.
Climate Effects:
- Energy Requirements: Extreme temperatures affect energy usage and manufacturing cycles.
- Typhoons and extreme weather can destroy infrastructure and disrupt supply systems.
- Natural fibers: Weather factors impact the availability and supply of raw materials such as cotton.
Adaptation Techniques:
- Alternatives for Raw Materials
- Investing in infrastructure can increase resistance to disruptions caused by climate change. “These life cycle stages normally include raw-material extraction, processing, transportation, use, and disposal or recycling” (Odey et al., 2021).
Challenges:
Cost: Small firms suffer high startup expenses.
Competition is global, with decreasing production costs.
Future Prospects: The potential to lead sustainably via continued innovation and worldwide collaboration.
