Lately we've been finding ourselves shooting inside various types of Chinese factories. A few months ago we provided e-learning video content of Guangdong textile plants to Sonata Learning.
The project focused on the ways that certain textile factories had implemented systems to become more energy-efficient and more environmentally-friendly.
For someone who lives in China and sees signs of so much pollution on a regular basis, this project was an nice surprise. It actually restored a little bit of hope in me for the potential of Chinese industries that have had reputations for being environmentally destructive.
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I was familiar with reports several years ago about terrible waste water pollution from jeans manufacturing, particularly in Guangdong Province (where I live). We got to see inside a couple of Guangdong textile factories that were doing something to change the way their mill affected the community around it.
First we filmed in the Pacific (Panyu) Textiles plant, just about an hour south of downtown Guangzhou. There we interviewed the plant manager and head engineer, Mr. Zhao Qizhi (赵奇志, below on the left). The second textile factory, Panther Textiles, was about a two-hour drive southwest of Guangzhou in the city of Kaiping, . There we interviewed the factory manager, Ms. Xu Qiping (许绮萍, below on the right).
We looked at the different ways each of these factories have been re-designing their processes to both save energy and protect the environment. The video content we shot was part of an e-learning course to equip other factories around the world in making similar changes.
Heat Recovery
Heat from fabric setting machine exhaust as well as from the main factory boiler is recovered to reuse for other processes in their mill, which helps them run more efficiently.
Spray-Coat Insulation
Huge dye vats are sprayed with insulation to preserve heat. This both allows for a safer environment for workers (the extremely hot vat is no longer exposed) but also helps save the factory money because heat energy is not wasted.
Waste-Water Treatment
Instead of dumping water from the dye process right back into the Pearl River, all waste water is now filtered and treated first. I got a first-hand look at the water before it was treated. It was disgusting. I can't believe that many plants are still dumping this stuff back into waterways. See photos below for the difference.
Condensate Recovery
Steam from processes in the mill evaporates into the atmosphere. In the past that steam and heat was wasted. Now the steam condensates into liquid water and is recycled back into the manufacturing process.
Overall it was a very interesting experience for our crew. I was very impressed by the efforts being made to cut back on harmful pollutants in the local waterways. Way to go, China! Lead by example.
Tell us about your next video project in China!