China's environmental protection efforts buoy air purifier companies

China's ongoing efforts to improve air quality will not only benefit the air purifier sector, but also weed out less qualified players and provide a solid foundation to companies with genuine technological edge, according to a senior industry executive.

"Everybody can sell air purifiers when you have PM2.5 at 300 outside for two weeks, because it does not need a great company to achieve that," said Frank Hammes, CEO of Swiss air purification provider IQAir.

Hammes said the Chinese government's measures to combat pollution have had tangible effects since 2013. This also coincides with a United Nations report released on March 11 that named China as a global model for air quality management, thanks to the "enormous investment of time, resources and political will".