“The more upgrades you bring to a technology, the more sustainable you make it,” Bianco told Fibre2Fashion on the occasion of International Water Day. Maglificio Ripa invests 10 per cent of its turnover in technological upgrades and sustainability, both in power supply and water supply. “For example, last year we replaced all humidification and conditioning systems throughout the entire production plant. Over the last ten years we have reduced water consumption by 20-30 per cent by recycling and investing in sophisticated output and input purifiers aimed at optimising water reuse. Water is partially reused for dyeing while the generated heat is used to heat up the production plants.”
Water is essential in the textiles industry where consumption involves all production stages, from cutting to bleaching and dyeing. “It (the textiles industry) is the industry with the biggest water footprint. We have adopted a self-assessment tool to determine our water footprint which would allow us to understand and establish where and how we can improve to reduce consumption. We have invested in the technology to be able to cut down on water waste and also recycle wastewater which would then lead us to obtain and use excellent purified water. We are following the direction of the technology at the service of the environment, and in the textiles business we are among the most virtuous companies working on this,” said Bianco.
For reducing water consumption/pollution in the textiles industry, in addition to constant upgrading of technology, Bianco suggests that the industry should recycle and use alternative eco-sustainable sources, monitor consumption of resources, and develop eco-sustainable fabrics. (RKS)
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Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India