Written by Xu Gaodong and translated by Xin Xue
The introduction of "Green Environmental Protection Declaration" caused a significant response in the industry. Why did people pay so much attention to the declaration and what significance does it have? With these questions, the reporter visited Mr. Deng Jie, an expert of China Coating Association Titanium Dioxide Branch and the general manager of Beijing Oriental Horizon Technology Development Co.,Ltd.
The reporter: Mr. Deng, we know that recently China Coating Association Titanium Dioxide Branch introduced the "Green Environmental Protection Declaration". Is it the first time for such declaration to be introduced in the industry?
Mr. Deng: Yes, you are right. It is of some official nature and has specific authority and a wide range of influence.
The reporter: Mr. Deng, could you please introduce the background of the introduction of the declaration?
Mr. Deng: It has been the common concerns of the titanium industry to protect environment, save energy, reduce emission, strengthen pollution management and develop circular economy. The industry insiders also eagerly expect the traditional extensive economic growth model to be changed and the goal of cleaner production on the basis of energy-saving and emission reduction to be achieved as early as possible. Seen from the developing status of the industry, the advocacy of green production has become the general trend and permits of any delay. From the perspective o f the whole industry, the introduction of the declaration not only accord with the national environmental law but also conforms to the call from National Development and Reform Commission, environmental and construction sectors. In the the first meeting celebrating the establishment of the Expert Group of China Coating Industry Association Titanium Branch held not long before, all the presented titanium experts agreed that the sustainable development can be achieved only when domestic titanium enterprises realized green production, energy-saving and emission reduction. Naturally, the introduction of "Green Environmental Protection Declaration" became an important topic. China Titanium Net was authorized to draft the declaration according to the spirit of the meeting.
The reporter: In terms of advocating environmental protection, energy-saving and emission reduction, the declaration can be regarded as an important directive guidance. Then will it become the guidance document for all the domestic titanium enterprises?
Mr. Deng: As a declaration issued by a trade association, it has obvious guiding function. Nonetheless, it＇s not issued by the governmental department, so it isn＇t mandatory. The main role it plays is to advocate, appeal and lead the industry to develop healthily. Along with the social reform and the economic development, the content of the declaration will be revised accordingly.
The reporter: What＇s the core of the declaration?
Mr. Deng: The core of this declaration is advocating titanium manufactures and downstream application enterprises to carry out green production, promoting titanium industry to accelerate the pace of energy-saving and emission reduction, as well as making a contribution to the building of a healthy, environmental and safe living space for publics. The declaration mainly contains the following six points. At first, appeal titanium manufactures and downstream enterprises to take environmental protection as the capital of sustainable operation; Secondly, advocate enterprises to realize sustainable development through energy-saving, emission reduction and comprehensive utilization of resources; Thirdly, hope that titanium manufactures and downstream enterprises have the courage to bear the responsibilities of environmental, safety and health; Fourthly, control the low-level expansion of titanium enterprises through the act of industry associations; Fifthly, encourage titanium enterprises to make greater efforts in optimizing the industrial technology and improving the technical level of industrial process; Sixthly, guide titanium enterprises to improve scale merit and competitiveness by increasing capacity concentration. To sum up, the goal of the declaration is to inosculate economic, social and cultural benefits as a whole through advocating a green safe energy-saving production model and building a healthy comfort living environment for publics.
The reporter: The declaration referred to " strive to increase the capacity concentration". Does it mean that the capacity distribution of the domestic titanium enterprises is relatively decentralized?
Mr. Deng: I guess you can say that. It is known to all the insiders that there are only about twenty tio2 manufactures and 60 factories in the world and the total capacity of the top five titanium enterprises account for 70% of the world＇s total tio2 capacity. Among which, the total annual production capacity of DuPont＇s five manufacturing plants is 1.08 million tons, Qwest is over 0.8 million tons (Qwest acquired AP＇s eight production plants whose capacity was 72 million tons), Kerr McGee is 0.6 million tons, Huntsman is 0.57 million tons and Kronos is 0.43 million tons. The highly capacity concentration caused raw materials and technology resources to be held in the hands of these several giants. Whereas in China, there are over 70 titanium enterprises in total, but only a few of them, namely Shandong Dongjia, Jiangxi Tianguang and Guangxi Jinlong Titanium etc., own an annual capacity of 0.1 million tons. And Jiangxi Tianguang and Guangxi Jinlong Titanium had expanded their capacity just in this year. The total domestic Tio2 capacity is above 1.2 million tons, but there are basically no enterprises whose capacity can achieve 10% of the total capacity. Besides, the area distribution of domestic titanium enterprises is also highly fragmented. They are widely distributed in northwest, east, south and central regions and in each region there are only a few companys. Thus, it＇s difficult to form a concentrated Tio2 industrial chain and to share resources and information. Therefore, our appeal for increasing the capacity concentration conforms to the trend of economic development. In this year, a lot of small-scale titanium enterprises were merged or shut down. More than ten enterprises disappeared in a short time. At the same time, some medium or large-sized titanium enterprises grasped the opportunity of economic recovery to expand Tio2 capacity. According to this trend, three or five years later, domestic tio2 enterprises will shrink to less than 20 and the greatest capacity may surpass 0.2 million tons per year. As far as the capacity concentration is concerned, the development of titanium industry is optimistic.
The reporter: We know that China Titanium Net was authorized to draft the the declaration. But why did Tio2 Branch assign such important task to China Titanium Net?
Mr. Deng: It is decided by the strength of China Titanium Net. China Titanium Net is the first domestic professional website engaging in Tio2 and its application. It is also the first domestic comprehensive and authoritative industry website which has English version and 3G Mobile Platform. Moreover, China Titanium Net has become the partner site designated by the expert group of China Coating Association Tio2 Branch. It assumes the responsibilities of issuing the policies of titanium industry and publicizing the spirit of industry conferences. Therefore, it＇s completely reasonable for China Titanium Net to draft the declaration.
The reporter: It is said that the it is difficult for domestic tio2 enterprises to come into the market. Will the declaration play an active role in this respect?
Mr. Deng: Of course. The introduction of the declaration will get rid of the long-standing drawbacks of the domestic titanium industry, promote the standardization of the industry and lead it to develop toward a healthy direction. Meanwhile, the introduction of the declaration will contribute to change the old concept held by relevant government departments(namely, titanium industry is an industry with high energy consumption, high pollution and low levels) and cause them to re-examine the progressive outcomes of titanium industry after reform. Hence it will play an active role in the struggle for national policy support and be conductive to remove partial market barriers for domestic titanium enterprises.
The reporter: Does the introduction of the declaration have some relations to the international road of domestic titanium enterprises?
Mr. Deng: "The Green Environmental Protection Declaration" vigorously advocates enterprises to save energy and reduce emission, guides enterprises to improve scale merits through capacity concentration as well as help them to realize the importance of industrial upgrading and to timely implement the optimal allocation of resources. All of these contribute to increase the competitiveness of domestic titanium enterprises, gradually narrow the gap with world-class titanium enterprises and accelerate the pace of taking part in the international competition. We can say that "The Green Environmental Protection Declaration" is a booster which pushes domestic titanium enterprises to enter the international road.
The reporter: Does the "environmental production" referred to in the declaration have some relation with the "environmental protection" people usually said in their daily life?
Mr. Deng: In fact, "environmental production" includes "environmental protection". It tell us that production can not be carried out at the cost of environment and environmental protection should be put in a strategic position. After all, strengthening environmental protection is the important act of implementing scientific concept of development and the inherent requirements of constructing the well-off society. It is favorable to promote the adjustment of economic structure of titanium industry and the transformation of the growth pattern. Besides, it will help to cultivate new economic growth points by promoting the development of environmental protection and related industries. Moreover, it is conducive to promoting the building of socialist spiritual civilization by raising environmental awareness and moral qualities of the whole society. Furthermore, it will help to protect people＇s health, improve the quality of their lives, maintain the long-term interests of Chinese nation and leave a good living and development space for our future generations. Therefore, titanium enterprises should consider both economic and environmental benefits, develop circular economy on the basis of protecting environment and take energy-saving and emission reduction as an important weapon of sustainable operation.
The reporter: Mr. Deng, you just mentioned that the declaration didn＇t have the mandatory feature as other administrative documents, then on what basis will the enterprises enforce it?
Mr. Deng: Every industry has its own rules. Titanium Branch will guide titanium enterprises to implement the declaration through the influence of associations. Meanwhile, it will appeal other relevant industries to implement the declaration together. There is no enforcement powers, so titanium enterprises are required to abide by the declaration consciously according to their moral yardsticks. As a sentence in the declaration goes, "Don＇t violate your conscience and don＇t forget your integrity even you are supervised by no one, as the god knows everything that you have done".
The implementation of the declaration lies in the moral awareness and environmental concept of titanium manufacturers and applied merchandisers. The introduction of the declaration has a significant meaning in that it is the first written document in which domestic titanium industry has the courage to face its own problems and seek solutions. It will guide China＇s titanium enterprises to truly go abroad and help to improve the image and competitive position of China＇s titanium industry in the international arena.
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