Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR

The silk handicrafts sector in the Lao PDR is an inherently environmentally-friendly industry facing growth driven by international demand, particularly from the United States. While the sector is currently characterized by small, unorganized family businesses, scaling up production poses risks of increased water consumption and pollution. The document recommends establishing a silk handicraft fund, improving wastewater treatment and recycling, and introducing environmental performance awards to ensure sustainable growth and capture 'green' market opportunities.

• The silk handicrafts industry in the Lao PDR is fundamentally environmentally-friendly and possesses the capacity to avoid negative ecological effects while leveraging green markets.
• The sector is primarily composed of small, dispersed family businesses in rural and urban areas, which leads to a lack of organization and creates barriers to international supply, including issues with raw materials, quality assurance, and national standards.
• Scaling production to meet rising regional and international demand—specifically following the resumption of Normal Trade Relations with the United States—could lead to negative environmental outcomes such as higher water pollution and consumption.

APA

Soulivanh,, S. (2008). Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-silk-handicrafts-sector-lao-pdr

Chicago

Soulivanh,, Somphong. Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-silk-handicrafts-sector-lao-pdr.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Soulivanh, |first1=Somphong |title=Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=23 January 2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-silk-handicrafts-sector-lao-pdr |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{soulivanh2008environmental, author = {Soulivanh,, Somphong}, title = {{Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-silk-handicrafts-sector-lao-pdr}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }