Globally, approximately one million plastic bottles are consumed every minute, and up to five trillion plastic bags are used each year. About 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually worldwide, with less than 10% being recycled. The vast amount of unrecycled plastic is discarded, causing harm to the ecological environment and living organisms, including humans.
In 2024, global textile waste generation reached 140 million tons, with China accounting for 26% of the total—approximately 36.4 million tons. According to preliminary estimates by the Waste Textile Special Committee of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, China recycled over 8.5 million tons of waste textiles, achieving a recycling rate of about 23%. The remaining waste was processed through incineration and landfill, exerting significant pressure on the atmosphere and the ecological environment.
In 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission, in collaboration with other relevant departments, issued the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Waste Materials Recycling System (No. 109 [2022], Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, hereinafter referred to as the Guiding Opinions). This document provides a systematic plan and coordinated arrangement for the comprehensive development of China's waste materials recycling system over the next five years. It represents a key measure to implement the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee and the *Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan*, as well as to advance the high-quality development of the circular economy during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.