January 2020 Edition Apparel January 2020 issue | Page 31

INTERVIEW
THE APPAREL INDUSTRY
IS FACING PRESSURE
TO REDUCE ITS DEMAND
OF FRESHWATER.
The centre in Ahmedabad opens in 2020.
An innovation hub for apparel companies,
manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, sustainability
experts, academics, and other environmental
stakeholders to advance and scale water
stewardship across the apparel sector,
the 18,000 square-feet space will feature
installations that showcase the best practices in
water management and recycling technologies.
per day or 2.5 billion litres of freshwater on an
annual basis, preserving the local community’s
vital freshwater resources. This is probably the
first of its kind in an industry that is grappling with
resources and is one of the biggest consumers of
water after the agriculture industry in India.
The textile industry is dependent on water
in virtually all steps of manufacturing—ranging
from dyeing to the use of speciality and finishing
chemicals in water baths. In India alone, the
textile industry uses 425,000,000 gallons of water
daily and approximately 500 gallons of water is
used in the production of just one pair of jeans.
As water is becoming increasingly scarce due to
climate change and growing human needs, the
apparel industry is facing pressure to reduce its
demand of freshwater.
Arvind’s denim-manufacturing facility in
Ahmedabad—the first mill in India to manufacture
denim—will now operate entirely on reclaimed
water using Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
technology, which will treat domestic waste water
drawn from the surrounding communities without
chemicals being used in the process. A newly
constructed pipeline will draw waste water from
the local municipal line. In the face of local water
scarcity, the facility will also reduce business risk
for Arvind, Gap Inc. and other brands that source
from the facility with the use of waste water.
“We’re proud to reach this milestone in our
ongoing efforts to end water-wasting processes
and reduce our environmental impact. This
project is an important example of innovative,
sustainable solutions that we can unlock through
partnership across the apparel industry,” said
Christophe Roussel, EVP of Global Sourcing
at Gap Inc. “Arvind Limited is a strong and
valued partner to Gap Inc. and a global leader in
responsible, innovative textile manufacturing. We
are excited to continue to expand our relationship
through this critical effort.”
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