A special team of volunteers, known as the "odor inspectors", is busy sniffing out problems in Jiaxing City in east China's Zhejiang Province to promote local environmental protection.
Organized by the local ecology and environment department, this group of volunteers from all walks of life visited a chemical factory in a industrial park to do a simple yet special task: smell for odors.
"To address public concerns over our chemical companies, we've organized a team of 'civilian odor inspectors' as part of our public engagement efforts. These inspectors are invited to the companies to literally use their noses to detect odors. The 'nose standard' complements the existing national emission standards, helping enterprises to reduce unpleasant odors, enhance their environmental management, and ultimately improve the overall environmental quality of the park," said Cheng Xiaoxia, deputy director of Zhapu Economic Development Zone Branch of Jiaxing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau.
The "civilian odor inspector" initiative has been well received by locals, who actively volunteer to promote public understanding of environmental protection.
Meanwhile, enterprises have tightened production standards based on community feedback and oversight, advancing both industrial upgrades and environmental governance.
Public satisfaction with environmental improvements has grown. This initiative has created positive interaction among the public, the government, and the enterprises.
"Civilian odor inspectors" in action for environmental protection in China's Zhejiang
China's smart consumer device manufacturing sector has seen rapid growth this year, fueled by a government-backed trade-in program and the expansion of diversified consumption scenarios.
From January to May, the country's electronic information manufacturing industry maintained strong momentum, with total revenue of enterprises above the designated size reaching 6.49 trillion yuan (some 900 billion U.S. dollars), up 9.4 percent year on year.
Production of electronic consumer goods recorded steady increases. Over 140 million computers were produced during the period, up 8 percent from a year earlier, while 14.04 million television units rolled off assembly lines, up 1.7 percent year on year.
"Consumption scenarios are becoming more diversified. On the demand side, new smart products are quickly entering the market, opening up emerging markets in home services, health management, and beyond. On the supply side, the industry is clearly moving toward transformation and upgrading, with new growth drivers accelerating," said Zuo Kairui, director of the Industry Development Department of the Institute of Policy and Economics at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, China plans to go on promoting its "AI plus consumer goods" initiative, encouraging the development and application of new technologies such as smart wearables, ultra-high-definition video, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics.
Meanwhile, authorities will continue to foster high-growth consumer sectors and guide the smart device industry toward greener, more service-oriented development.
China's smart consumer device industry sees rapid growth amid policy boost
