Health concerns drive demand for 'green' appliances

Troubled by smog and drinking water safety issues, Chinese residents' desire for health will drive the development of green and eco-friendly home appliances, industry sources said.

At the Appliance & electronics World Expo held in Shanghai last week, air purifiers, water purification machines and other home appliances with health-enhancing functions drew strong public attention.

"In recent years, the public awareness of environmental health has significantly increased, and their demand for improving the environment and their health is very urgent as well," said Xiao Xuezhi, deputy director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office under the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

"Green development has become a trend in the appliance and electronics industries. China's appliance and electronics industries should seek more breakthroughs in the fields of environment and health. This should be given full consideration by the whole industry," Xiao said at an environment and health appliances forum during the expo, which was organized by the China Household Electrical Appliances Association.

This year, the exhibition area for environment and health appliances expanded to 20,000 square meters from 15,000 sq m last year.

Despite the huge popularity of air purifiers and water filtration machines in recent years, industry experts said the sector is still at an early stage of development with problems to be resolved.

Industry insiders are calling for a unified standard for air purifiers and water filtration devices.

"A unified industry standard will help consumers determine proper prices. There is a variety of air purifiers with different functions on the market.

"Consumers need to know the air pollution source when they choose an air purifier. The wrong choice of an air purifier may lead to secondary pollution," said an industry insider.