China's leading the way in green manufacturing
- By Nigel Johnston
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Shanghai Daily, July 13, 2015
I, for one, am confident that China will manage the full-fledged transition to green development. On QualityTrade.com, a global wholesale e-commerce website that ranks companies by quality standards — including environmental ones, we already see many of these green manufacturing companies successfully marketing themselves to customers worldwide.
China's 12th Five-year Plan doubles down on seven important green industries: environmental protection and energy efficiency, new energy, next generation information technology, biotechnology, high-end manufacturing, clean-energy vehicles and high-tech materials.
But here's the critical point: These aren't just green industries. They are high-growth and high-value, too. And they have huge export potential.
The Middle Kingdom is already seeing the fruits of its green industry focus. Already six of the world's top 10 solar panel producers are Chinese, led by Trina Solar, which has more than 14,000 employees in 14 countries around the world.
Green manufacturing also includes less sophisticated moves, such as improving the energy efficiency of factories in more traditional sectors.
Concord Ceramics has factories in Shanghai, Dongguan and Shenzhen. Facing higher labor costs and thinner margins, General Manager Kevin Chang turned to energy efficiency to improve his bottom line.
Chang's production line requires intensive air conditioning. The electricity to run those ACs ate up 15 percent of his operating costs.
To reduce expenses, Chang installed a higher volume AC system. Now, he says, his electricity bills are 40 percent smaller. And he's on the hunt for more — and greener — savings.
Nigel Johnston is the founder and CEO of QualityTrade.com, a global wholesale e-commerce platform that ranks companies by quality standards — including environmental ones.
