After ceramics, paper, and other industries were targeted for regulation due to their "three highs and one low" characteristics—high energy consumption, high pollution, high resource usage, and low output—Foshan’s Shunde district recently introduced a comprehensive governance plan. As a result, the furniture industry has now become a central focus of environmental remediation efforts. According to the "Three Highs and One Low" Enterprise Adjustment and Implementation Plan issued by Shunde, the first batch of shutdown and relocation projects included 9 industries such as papermaking, textiles, bleaching, and ink production. Additionally, 27 key governance projects were identified, with 19 of them involving furniture manufacturing companies. Notably, Shunde is a major hub for China's furniture industry. Longjiang Town is known as the country's first furniture manufacturing center, while Lecong Town is considered the capital of Chinese furniture trade. In mid-October, Tan Fengxian, deputy mayor of Longjiang Town, emphasized at a meeting that the furniture industry in Longjiang and Lecong would be the core of the industrial adjustment and development under the new plan. The implementation of this plan is expected to significantly impact Shunde’s furniture sector. Yang Zhihua, secretary-general of the Lecong Furniture Association, told the "Daily Economic News" that the remediation measures are beneficial for the long-term health and sustainable growth of the industry, calling it a positive influence. Yang pointed out that some small and medium-sized furniture companies may face issues like noise and air pollution. He also mentioned that certain firms use non-environmentally friendly coatings, which can harm air quality, and there are concerns about illegal waste disposal, such as unauthorized discharge of waste oil and wood chips. Wang Ke, president of the Guangdong Furniture Association, noted that the plan aims to drive the transformation and upgrading of the entire furniture industry, with cleaner production practices becoming the industry norm. At the same meeting, Tan Fengxian highlighted that a significant portion of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from furniture companies comes from traditional oil-based paints. The adoption of water-based paints is seen as a practical solution for most furniture manufacturers to comply with the new regulations and improve environmental performance. Yang added that the Chinese furniture industry has been facing challenges over the past two years, including economic slowdowns, real estate market regulations, and an oversupplied domestic market. These factors have contributed to a decline in overall industry performance. According to the "2013 Domestic Sales and Import and Export Report of the Guangdong Furniture Industry," released jointly by the Guangdong Furniture Chamber of Commerce and the Guangdong Furniture Industry Research Institute, Guangdong’s furniture production in the first five months of 2013 dropped by 14.3% compared to the previous year. In terms of exports, although demand for solid wood furniture increased in Germany, other countries experienced negative growth in furniture exports from Guangdong during the same period. Currently, Shunde-based furniture companies are actively expanding into overseas markets while also focusing on domestic growth. For example, several local furniture enterprises have set up large-scale home experience centers in Yiyang, Hunan, covering more than 3,000 mu. Additionally, many companies are exploring e-commerce platforms to broaden their reach and increase sales. (Editor: Peterr) Jiangsu Zhongyi Tools and Riggings Co., Ltd. , https://www.zy-rigging.com