Certain process, technique, and management deficits are commonly found in micro- and small-scale wet textile operations. These deficits can have serious adverse effects on short- or long-term business performance---AND, on the local environment and on community health and safety. Among the most significant areas where economic savings can be realized through cleaner production are management actions that address excess water use, inefficiencies in the use of chemical inputs, poorly maintained equipment and production practices, poor planning for intermittent production, poor working conditions, inefficient fuel use, and excess/poorly treated wastewater.
Addressing these deficits by adopting resource-efficient and cleaner production (RECP) processes, techniques, and management practices can reduce costs and improve business performance and, at the same time, avoid or minimize adverse impacts on the local environment and on community health and safety. RECP approaches generally focus on improving resource and production efficiency which saves physical and energy resources, time, and money needed in production—and results in less waste and pollution. This briefing supports the application of RECP solutions in these seven key areas.
Resources
References
- Ecotextile News. http://www.ecotextile.com.
- Textile consultancy Specialising in Dying, Finishing, Printing and Chemicals. http://www.colour-connections.com/.
- Eco-metrics: A Tool Devised to Calculate the Environmental Impact of the Different Textile Types and Different Production methods. http://www.colour-connections.com/EcoMetrics/index.html.
- Society of Dyers and Colourists. http://www.sdc.org.uk/.
- Information on natural dyes: http://www.naturaldyes.org/organizations.htm.
- Zarina F. Kenjaeva (from Uzbekistan: Madrasa Nodir Devon Begi) demonstrates naturally dyed carpets at the Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Ethical Fashion Forum http://source.ethicalfashionforum.com/.
- Chequer, F.M.D. et al. Intech. Chapter 6: Textile Dyes: Dyeing Process and Environmental Impact. (2013). http://www.intechopen.com/books/eco-friendly-textile-dyeing-and-finishing/textile-dyes-dyeing-process-and-environmental-impact.
- Cleaner Production in Cloth Printing and Dyeing Operations. Submitted to UNEP IE by the Sino-Norwegian Cleaner Production Program. It was edited and formatted for the ICPIC diskette in May 1997. Subsequently it underwent a formal technical review in September 1998 by Dr. Prasad Modak, Environmental Management Centre, Mumbai, India. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/10/09351.htm.
- Cleaner Technology Transfer to the Polish Textile Industry: Idea Catalogue and Selected Options (1999). Danish Cooperation for Environment in Eastern Europe (DANCEE). http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/Publications/1999/87-7909-255-1/pdf/87-7909-265-9.pdf.
- Energy Conservation in the Textile Industry (1992). United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Japan. http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/import/userfiles/puffk/textile.pdf.
- Pollution Prevention Tips for Wet-Processing Textile Mills. Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/09/08015.htm.
- Sectoral Profile of the Textile Industry (1998). United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Sustainable Development Program. January. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/10489/sectors701.html.
- Smith, Brent and Vikki Bristow. Indoor Air Quality And Textiles: An Emerging Issue (1994). Raleigh, North Carolina: School of Textiles, North Carolina State University. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/03/02906.pdf.
- "Textiles" (1998). Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook. World Bank Group. http://elibrary.worldbank.org/content/book/9780821336380.
- The Textile Industry and the Environment, Technical Report No.16. (1993). United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).This booklet gives an overview of environmental impacts associated with textile production and strategies for cleaner production. Wanucha, David J. Land Application of Textile Biosolids: North Carolina's Experience. North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/02/01124.pdf.
- Water Conservation for Textile Mills: A Waste Reduction Fact Sheet (1993). North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00026.htm.
This magazine is an environmental magazine for the global textile and clothing supply chain.
This website is of a consultancy dedicated to improving textile products, the processes used to make them, the technical knowledge of individuals, and the effectiveness of communication with suppliers and customers.
This website presents, Ecometrics, a tool devised to calculate the environmental impact of the different textile types and different production methods. It looks at the total life-cycle of a product and considers the impact on water, energy, use of non-renewable resources and pollution — and calculates and overall score for a particular product or process.
This website represents the Society of Dyers and Colourists, the world’s leading independent, educational charity dedicated to advancing the science and technology of colour worldwide.
This website represents the Natural Dyes International, an international nonprofit organized to research natural dyes and pigments, share information, and educate the public about the history of this rich tradition and the use of these natural materials.School of UNESCO. Producer of Silk Vegetable Dyed, Hand Knotted Rug & Suzane.
This website represents the Ethical Fashion Forum, which in 2011 launched SOURCE, a ground breaking social enterprise set to transform livelihoods for 2.5 million people in the developing world and significantly reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
Focuses on various genetic disorders addressing epidemiology, etiology, molecular basis and novel treatment options for these diseases
Useful description of general cost-effective pollution prevention tips (ranging from limiting chemical use to saving water or fuel costs).
This study was commissioned by the Danish environmental protection agency for improvements in the Polish textile industry. Although the report refers to medium-scale producers, it provides an excellent example of diagnosis and options for cleaner production. The report discusses different methods of improving resource efficiency, chemical substitution, and optimization.
This manual presents a lengthy discussion of textile production in a variety of subsectors-yarn and fiber production, knitting, weaving, dyeing and finishing-and provides guidance on energy-saving technologies for each one.
This report gives specific cleaner production guidelines for improving textile processing. Concentrates mostly on water conservation methods and improving chemical use.
An extensive overview of textile production, including subsectors. Also includes a very detailed technical description of cleaner production techniques such as chemical substitution, water conservation and waste minimization.
Fairly technical discussion of possible air pollutants present inside textile processing buildings.
This chapter is part of a larger pollution prevention handbook published by the World Bank. The document discusses major sources of pollution and lists technical requirements for limiting chemical pollutants.
A low-tech discussion of the beneficial reuse of textile wastewater treatment sludge in agriculture.
Methods of conserving water at various points in the production process. Although primarily aimed at large-scale producers, it contains a useful discussion on reuse and water conservation relevant to the small-scale produce.