Special · Commentary
KONG Mengxuan, CHENG Songtao, LI Hai
With the growing global awareness of environmental protection, traditional synthetic fibers face increasing pressure due
to their non-biodegradable nature and environmental pollution. This paper systematically reviews the definition, classification, properties, and application status of degradable synthetic fibers in the textile industry, focusing on representative materials such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polycaprolactone (PCL). The study highlights the technical characteristics, industrial challenges, and market demands of these fibers. Results indicate that degradable synthetic fibers can effectively reduce environmental pollution through biodegradation and photodegradation, but their high production costs and insufficient performance stability remain major barriers to large-scale adoption. Future efforts should focus on technological innovation and policy support to promote the industrialization of degradable fibers, thereby achieving green and sustainable development in the textile sector.With the growing global awareness of environmental protection, traditional synthetic fibers face increasing pressure due to their non-biodegradable nature and environmental pollution. This paper systematically reviews the definition, classification, properties, and application status of degradable synthetic fibers in the textile industry, focusing on representative materials such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polycaprolactone (PCL). The study highlights the technical characteristics, industrial challenges, and market demands of these fibers. Results indicate that degradable synthetic fibers can effectively reduce environmental pollution through biodegradation and photodegradation, but their high production costs and insufficient performance stability remain major barriers to large-scale adoption. Future efforts should focus on technological innovation and policy support to promote the industrialization of degradable fibers, thereby achieving green and sustainable development in the textile sector.