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

This research paper examines the environmental implications of the growing silk handicrafts sector in the Lao PDR, noting that while the industry is inherently environmentally friendly, scaling up production to meet international demand creates risks of water pollution and increased water consumption.

• The silk handicrafts sector in the Lao PDR is characterized as an inherently environmentally-friendly industry that is seeing steady growth in regional and international demand, particularly following the resumption of Normal Trade Relations with the United States.
• The sector consists primarily of small, dispersed family businesses in rural and urban areas. This structure leads to a lack of organization and creates barriers to international market supply, including issues with quality assurance, national standards, certification, and the supply of raw materials and end products.
• Scaling up production to meet demand presents both environmental risks and opportunities. Potential negative impacts include increased water consumption and water pollution, while positive impacts could stem from international demand for natural "green" silk produced sustainably. Proposed mitigations include redesigning waste-water treatment, recycling water, upgrading technology, and establishing a silk handicraft fund and environmental performance awards.

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} }