The new progressive denim technology introduced by Clariant, takes into consideration both, technological and ecological advances with fashion being central, stressing on the need for water conservation. The company has innovated an eco-efficient way to manufacture denim, creating a win-win situation for both consumers and the company.
[bleft]According to industry experts, the production of denim fabric usually involves huge quantities of water: 2900 gallons of water are required to produce one pair of blue jeans; to produce 2000 million units of denim garments, 40 billion litres of water is necessary. [/bleft]
Nirmal Punjabi, Head – Business Development India 1 & Competence Centre – Dyes, Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd. states, “We have developed an innovative process technology for more environmental friendly denim manufacturing. In the conventional denim indigo dyeing process, the fabric passes through a line of 10 to 14 vats, depending on the equipment used. The company’s Denim-Ox process brings this sequence down to four, and its Pad/Sizing Ox reduces this further to just one vat. Both the methods utilize, company’s Diresul RDT dyes, which generate a broader spectrum of shades than usually associated with conventional indigo dyes but without its environmental drawbacks.”
In contrast to the traditional production methods, the new technology helps in the reduction of water consumption by 92 per cent, preventing approx. 63 per cent of cotton waste and saves up to 30 per cent of the required energy. According to the company estimates, if only 25 per cent of all jeans worldwide were manufactured in accordance to the ‘Advanced Denim’ process, water savings would amount to about 62 billion litres per year which equals the water need of around 1.7 million people. Furthermore, the technology prevents 8.3 billion litres of waste water and saves around 220 million kilowatt hours of energy annually, reducing the carbon footprint of the industry in CO2 emissions accordingly.
Focusing on innovations leading to efficient technology which is environment friendly, P. Rajasekaran, Head – Textile Chemicals Business, Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd. informs, “The company will be investing more than ever in innovative products for current and future megatrends. The advanced denim exhibits the synergy between technology, ecology and fashion and is a remarkable illustration of the company’s commitment to developing and introducing solutions for a more sustainable textile industry.” The company’s latest technology has been honoured by the prestigious 2012 Innovation Awards, which is organized by ICIS Chemical Business magazine, as ‘overall winner’ and as ‘Innovation with Best Environmental Benefit.’ This new technology is beneficial to various denim manufacturers in improving their environmental credentials, keeping fashion at the fore.
