Light industry

The preamble light industry is mainly applied to the various sectors of the consumer goods industry.

Once until the mid 20th century, heavy industry had become in the industrialized countries the dominant industry, the focus of the economic development in the service sector and light industry shifted. In the course of globalization then wandered a part of the production volume from low-wage countries. Among the product segments, as the world's largest manufacturers of products of light industry have a significant share in the People's Republic of China today include, for example, electrical household appliances, plastic products, beverages, cosmetics and packaging.

Systems and equipment for light industry require compared to the heavy industry significantly lower investment. In addition, the production lines require only relatively low-skilled workers. Because of the relatively low environmental impacts emanating from the production to enterprises of light industry can settle in the vicinity of residential areas.

Older definitions denote by this term industries that handle non-metallic materials, such as the timber industry, leather industry, paper industry, glass industry and ceramic industry.