
Coral bleaching in Okinawa, Japan, 2016 – Photo by The Ocean Agency/Ocean Image Bank
The homes of marine life to just being scaffolding.
Coral reefs are vital to the Earth, dubbed as the ocean’s architects. They host 25% of marine species and form the backbone of marine ecosystems and fisheries. Once corals die, creatures like fish that navigate using the sound of corals struggle to find their way home.
In August last year, the global average ocean temperature broke historical records and has since remained above average almost every day. Corals worldwide cannot withstand the thermal stress, turning white or even dying. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has gathered scientific reports from around the world and concluded that the fourth global coral bleaching event is underway.
Scientists are concerned, as each of the first three global bleaching events has been more severe than the last. The first event occurred in 1998, affecting 20% of the world’s coral reefs due to heat stress. In 2010, the proportion rose to 35%, and the third event from 2014 to 2017 impacted 56% of coral reefs, after which NOAA introduced three new high-temperature warning levels.
Scientists liken coral death to an ocean habitat reduced to mere scaffolding—who would want to live in scaffolding? The impact on humanity is also significant, with many people relying on fisheries for their livelihood. The economic value of the world’s coral reefs is estimated at approximately $2.7 trillion annually. Scientists predict that this event could evolve into the most extensive global bleaching event in history within a week or two. We must accept the fact that the coral reefs we know are undergoing permanent changes. Only by rapidly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and limiting ocean warming can we hope to preserve at least some corals.
- The Widest-Ever Global Coral Crisis Will Hit Within Weeks, Scientists Say
- Coral bleaching: Fourth global mass stress episode underway – US scientists
However, the textile industry is one of the major sources of global greenhouse gas emissions, from the extraction and processing of raw materials to the energy consumption during production, each step can impact climate change.
PALTEX has begun actively seeking solutions to help clients reduce their carbon footprints through:
- Carbon Capture Utilization(CCU) such as CO2 membrane and CCU Yarn.
- Energy-saving technologies such as dope dyeing, yarn dyeing, and digital printing, which help reduce waste and overall energy demand.
- Recycling and reuse using mono-material aids in recycling and implementing a circular economy, reducing waste production and the demand for new materials, thereby lowering carbon emissions.
- Sustainable materials like recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and food waste, which emit significantly lower carbon during production than traditional materialst.


Paltex is committed to its contributions and responsibilities in combating climate change.
This not only helps protect precious marine ecosystems but also represents a responsibility to future generations.