New China standard raises bar on textile wastewater

BEIJING – China’s new textile wastewater standard is set to reshape how new and expanding dyeing and finishing operations manage discharge, with new requirements around treatment routes, compliance testing and wastewater infrastructure.

According to China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the country has around 149,000 textile enterprises, approximately 86% of which are SMEs, while around 93% of textile wastewater is discharged indirectly through wastewater treatment systems rather than directly into the environment.