HKRITA’s Panel Discussion in the Greater Bay Area Sparks Interest

Facing unprecedented challenges such as environmental protection, improving production efficiency, and market competition, scientific research plays a facilitating role in the development of various social sectors, including textile and apparel, and education. Many organisations have already incorporated sustainable development into their corporate culture and strategies, committing to reducing environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy. To explore how sustainable development technologies can drive the circular economy and promote social development, The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) held a panel discussion under the theme “Empowering Sustainability and Circularity through Innovation” at the Shenzhen World Convention and Exhibition Centre on 6 November 2023.

The discussion was hosted by Dr Gloria Yao, Director (Project Development) of HKRITA. Dr Yao first gave a brief account of the joint efforts of HKRITA and the industry to upgrade technological levels and promote sustainable development, followed by introducing four renowned experts from business and institutes in the Mainland and Hong Kong and their presentation topics.

Dr Gloria Yao, Director (Project Development) of HKRITA, introduces the institute's long-standing partnerships with the industry in technology innovation, sustainable development and enhancing competitiveness

Group photo of the hostess and speakers
From left to right: Prof Lilly Li, Professor of School of Fashion and Textiles and Associate Director PAIR of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Dr Gloria Yao, Director (Project Development) of HKRITA; Mr Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt; Mr Yugao Zhang, Group Chief Scientist and Director of Research and Development of Tessellation Group; Mr Jack Yang, Director of Innovation and Research Management of ANTA; and Mr Tom Wong, Manager (Sustainability, Denim Division) of Crystal International Group Limited

 

Self-developed Environmental-friendly Technologies to Boost Production Efficiency

Mr Yugao Zhang, Group Chief Scientist and Director of Research and Development of Tessellation Group introduced the waterless dyeing technology and the salt recovery system. The first technology replaces water with solvents to significantly reduce water consumption in the dyeing process. The latter technology recycles dyeing wastewater with salt to mitigate damage to waterways and soil around the factory. Both technologies have significant environmental and energy-saving impacts in the printing and dyeing industry of cotton textile.

Mr Tom Wong, Manager (Sustainability, Denim Division) of Crystal International Group Limited stressed the importance of incorporating innovation into production details and how the group practises such principle in its daily operation. Examples cited included a carbon calculator to track carbon emissions during production, denim products which require fewer washes and denim fabrics that are recycled from cut wastes and scraps. One featured project makes use of mechanised processes to eliminate traditional production tasks that are harmful to the environment and employees’ health.

Mr Yugao Zhang, Group Chief Scientist & Director of Research and Development of Tessellation Group, introduces the waterless dyeing technology and the dyeing wastewater recovery system

Mr Tom Wong, Manager (Sustainability, Denim Division) of Crystal International Group Limited, shares how the group makes use of eco-friendly technologies to produce denim fabric

 

Innovation to Drive Design, Education and Product Development

Prof Lilly Li, Professor of School of Fashion and Textiles and Associate Director PAIR of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, pointed out that cross-industry collaboration is important to the growth of the textile industry value chain; therefore, textile design and education should also move towards interdisciplinary development. Quoting her R&D project “A Swelling-controllable Composite Tubular Fabric for Regenerative Agriculture” as an example, Prof Li illustrated how the novel design of a textile product facilitates water conservation in irrigation. Considering the wide range of applications for textiles, such as healthcare and medical fields, textile product developers should also possess cross-disciplinary knowledge such as chemistry and artificial intelligence. She foresaw that strengthening collaboration between the industry and educational institutions not only brings greater business opportunities but also cultivates more talent for the industry.

Mr Jack Yang, Director of Innovation and Research Management of ANTA, shared, from a brand perspective, the responsibility and direction of sustainable development. He stated that under numerous challenges, simply launching new products is not good enough to meet market needs. It is necessary to be innovative in terms of material sourcing, production processes, and post-consumer waste treatment to reduce energy consumption and pollution. Both brands and consumers also need to develop a sense of responsibility when addressing the issue of cost increases.

Prof Lilly Li, Professor of School of Fashion and Textiles and Associate Director PAIR of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, emphasises the importance of innovative thinking in textile design

Mr Jack Yang, Director of Innovation and Research Management of ANTA, explains how the brand responds to the increasing demand from consumers for eco-friendly clothing products

 

During the discussion session, Dr Yao invited the speakers to share their challenges and solutions. One interesting topic that caught the audience's attention was how to encourage consumers to choose environmentally friendly textiles. Prof Li pointed out that the building of consumer behaviour begins with education, enlightening consumers to better understand the benefits of choosing eco-friendly textile products. Mr Yang shared how his group strikes a balance between eco-friendly effectiveness and production costs, benefiting the wider society.

HKRITA’s panel discussion attracted over 70 attendees. HKRITA also participated in the concurrent Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabric to showcase our textile R&D technologies to industry professionals from the mainland and international markets.

A positive and engaging atmosphere of interaction during the Q&A session

HKRITA showcases its textile recycling technologies, regenerated textile materials, innovative and function textiles, and high-performance sportswear in the exhibition