Dyeing, washing and finishing are where apparel uses most of its water, energy and chemistry. That is where we apply pressure.
Cutting and sewing consume relatively little water or energy. Dyeing, washing and finishing consume a great deal of both, and are where chemical discharge risk sits.
We therefore weight supplier selection towards mills and laundries that have invested in effluent treatment, water recycling, heat recovery and modern low-liquor dyeing machinery.
Where a programme involves heavy washing — denim in particular — we direct work towards laundries using ozone, laser and reduced-stone techniques that achieve the same finish with materially less water.
A functioning ETP sized to the facility’s discharge, with records showing it operates rather than simply exists.
Water reuse in rinsing and washing stages, and monitoring of litres consumed per kilogram of fabric.
Heat recovery, efficient boilers, machinery upgrades and, where grid conditions allow, renewable supply.
Restricted substance lists enforced in writing, chemical inventories maintained, safer alternatives adopted where available.
Boiler emissions, ventilation and dust management appropriate to the processes on site.
Segregated waste streams, fabric waste routed to recycling, and controlled disposal of hazardous materials.
Achieves bleaching and fading effects using ozone gas rather than large volumes of water and chlorine-based chemistry.
Whiskering, distressing and pattern effects created by laser rather than manual sanding and potassium permanganate spraying.
Modern dyeing machines operating at reduced liquor ratios, cutting both water use and the energy required to heat it.
Enzyme systems and reduced pumice stone use, lowering water consumption, sludge and fabric damage simultaneously.
Higher fabric utilisation at cutting reduces both cost and waste — typically the easiest win available on any programme.
We will show you which of your current processes could move to a lower-impact route, and what it costs.
