Plastic waste pollution, which could take hundreds of years to decompose, is one of the most ubiquitous environmental issues. While many countries face little success in combating plastic waste, a Chinese businesswoman and her factory in South Carolina have found sustainable business opportunities in plastic recycling. In the 10 years of exploring, the company has become the leading manufacturer to promote humankind’s sustainability and found its path for win-win cooperation between China and the US.
Around 10 years ago, a fiber factory in China developed leading technologies to use recycled PET bottle flakes to produce polyester staple fibers for filling in-home products such as pillows. However, the owner realized that she could not open a big market in China, where people commonly use organic fillings such as dried grains, tea leaves, and cotton for pillows. In 2013, she decided to build Sun Fiber in South Carolina to explore the market in America.
Sun Ya, the owner of Sun Fiber, said the company was able to make a profit in the US not only because of low energy costs but also Americans’ high willingness to buy environmentally friendly home products. The ability to make money is the key factor for the company to explore new technologies to promote plastic recycling for humankind and create new jobs for Americans. In South Carolina, foreign companies play a vital role in its economy, and China is the third-largest foreign investment provider after Germany and Canada.
