From Discard to Demand:
The Rise of Recycled Cotton Linters
Since ancient times, clothing, food, housing, and transportation have been the four fundamental aspects of daily life in China, with "clothing" being the top priority. Cotton, as a vital raw material for textiles, was introduced into China around the late Song and early Yuan dynasties, and since then, has become an indispensable part of daily life. During the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang enforced widespread cotton cultivation, officially placing cotton on the stage of agricultural development.
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In the beginning, people grew cotton primarily for its fibers, which were used to make clothing and bedding for warmth. With the later boom of the textile and garment industries, cotton became a key raw material for knitted fabrics. Over time, the diligent and ingenious Chinese discovered that cottonseeds, rich in plant oil and protein, could be repurposed as excellent feed and fertilizer for livestock and crops. However, a major issue emerged: the short fibers remaining on the surface of cottonseeds after harvesting—commonly known as cotton linters—were considered unusable. Although these fibers share the same origin as cotton, their short length made them unsuitable for textile processing. Processing them was also troublesome and of low added value. As a result, most of them, except those needed for replanting, were burned along with cotton stalks, wasting resources and harming the environment.
In the 1980s, the Chinese government called for collective efforts to conserve resources and promote sustainable development. At that time, our newly founded company decided to become a global leader in the natural cellulose industry. After thoughtful consideration, President Li set his sights on the overlooked cotton linter. Since it shared the same origin as cotton, surely it had potential. If its uses could be deeply explored, not only could waste be turned into treasure, but it could also drive growth in the cottonseed processing industry.
Once the direction was clear, President Li led Silver Hawk’s first R&D team in developing technology to efficiently separate these fibers from the cottonseed. After tireless effort and innovation, the world’s largest cotton pulp production base—centered on cotton linter—was established.
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Cotton linters are a completely natural plant fiber. By using them as the main raw material, we abandoned the traditional high-pollution, high-profit production model. Instead, we adopted mainly physical extraction methods to derive the natural cellulose from the linters, producing materials with high purity, high polymerization, and high viscosity. Our products are even praised as the "MSG of industry." Guided by the principles of safety, environmental responsibility, and people-first operations, our company has grown into the leading enterprise in cellulose purification in China after years of tireless work.
We succeeded. What was once an agricultural waste has now entered the economic market with real value. From being burned and buried, to being sold at low prices, and finally to large-scale production, the value of cotton linter continues to be redefined and elevated. With the advancement of technology and continuous innovation in production, we have extended our vision beyond its traditional use in textiles. Cotton linters have found applications in lithium batteries, LCD screens, military equipment, high-end additives, and more—fields where their demand keeps reaching new heights. With our hardworking hands, we’ve shown the world how to turn decay into magic.
As the road ahead stretches far and wide, we will continue to explore. Green Silver Hawk, Smart Silver Hawk—let us join hands and soar to even greater heights.