SDG 13 Steps: How Asian Denim Mills are Embracing Climate Action
Reducing fashion’s carbon footprint has never been more imperative. A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that without immediate and widespread intervention in shrinking emissions, it will be impossible to keep global warming limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
According to the United Nations, fashion is responsible for an estimated 2 to 8 percent of the world’s total carbon emissions. Companies in the private sector are taking action. Signatories of the U.N.’s Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, including Lenzing, have committed to a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
In addition to signing on to the UNFCCC, Lenzing has reduced its own carbon impact through True Carbon Zero TENCEL™. For the fibers, we have reduced the carbon footprint of the production process as much as possible. Any energy use that cannot be avoided is then offset.
Around the globe, denim mills are innovating to address U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action. Read on to see how mills in Asia—including Advance Denim, Adwin, Atlantic Mills, Badjatex, Blue Diamond, Moririn, Panther Denim/Tat Fung and Toyoshima—are reducing their carbon footprints.
ADVANCE DENIM
China
Advance Denim is aiming to have at least 40 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2025. Taking a step toward this goal, Advance began installing solar panels on its roof this year, which today supply about 5 percent of its energy needs. In 2020, the company also replaced its coal boiler with natural gas.
Looking ahead, the company has plans to switch to company cars using renewable energy in the next decade. By 2030, the company is also aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions per every 10,000 meters produced by 30 percent compared to 2017.
One of Advance Denim’s goals revolves around using the right tools to accurately measure its carbon emissions, tracking from raw material to finished product. One way it is working toward this is by membership in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, which sets sustainability goals and tracks metrics for participating cotton farmers.
ADWIN
China
Barry Lin, marketing manager, says:
“We have developed TENCEL™ Modal Black ‘No Water Dyeing’ and Modal Black ‘Less Water Dyeing’ in black denim and shirting.
“’No Water Dyeing’ is using the drop dye black yarn in the warp and weft. ‘Less Water Dyeing’ is using the drop dye black yarn in the warp and the weft is using the normal white yarn and then dyeing in black.”
Aside from the water and chemical benefits of No Water Dyeing, this process is more energy efficient and offers a 20 percent savings in electricity use. Greenhouse gas emissions are also minimized by 20 percent, and the climate change impact is halved.
ATLANTIC MILLS
Thailand
At Atlantic Mills, sustainable innovation includes choosing low-impact materials like organic cotton and TENCEL™. Compared to conventional cotton, cultivating organic crops uses 62 percent less energy. For dyeing, Atlantic uses liquid indigo, which helps to save on energy and chemicals since it takes less time to prepare.
Atlantic Mills uses biomass fuel instead of oil, which reduces emissions by 74 percent compared to the industry average. The company uses palm kernel shell scraps from domestic Thai sources as the biomass, which have the benefits of being uniform sizes and easy to handle.
BADJATEX
Indonesia
Facing a dire need for lower impact denim, Badjatex has decided to “Be Brave.” Part of this Be Brave sustainability platform includes energy saving methods, such as energy audits and more efficient lighting, that cut power use by 30 percent. Within laundry, the mill is also using ozone processes that boast a 37 percent reduction in energy and finishing machinery that has lower emissions impact.
Badjatex’s Be Pure line completely eliminates the need for laundry, which in turn cuts 30 percent of energy use compared to conventional garment manufacturing.
In another carbon cutting move, Badjatex is also using True Carbon Zero TENCEL™ fibers in its denim.
BLUE DIAMOND
China
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Blue Diamond is developing ambitious plans for green energy and cutting carbon emissions.
MORIRIN
Japan
Moririn is using TENCEL™ Modal with Indigo Color technology for its Aquaraiz denim range. The production of this TENCEL™ fiber saves more than 99 percent of electricity and 100 percent heat energy compared to conventional dyeing.
Since the early 1900s, Moririn has been planting Japanese cedar and cypress trees. Today, this comprises 217 hectares of FSC certified forest in the city of Gujo.
TAT FUNG/PANTHER DENIM
China
Over the years, Panther has been recognized for its energy saving initiatives and clean production.
Panther’s Equa offering reduces water use and chemical consumption, but it also boosts energy efficiency by 11 percent. Similarly, Laser Fit uses Jeanologia technology for more eco-friendly laser washing, which cuts chemicals and water, while also trimming 33 percent of energy use.
The mill has invested in facility upgrades and machines that help it cut down on energy, including a more efficient air compressor and lighting. A heat recycling program saves on coal consumption. In this program, wastewater heat recycling reuses hot water that would otherwise be disposed of to heat new, cool water to be used in production. Another recycling effort takes ash from the boiler and uses it to heat water.
Panther has also replaced some solid fossil fuels with natural gas, which results in less temperature loss and fewer gas emissions.
To track all of these efforts, Panther has a platform to manage its energy savings.
TOYOSHIMA
Japan
Toyoshima’s home in Japan’s Aichi prefecture is aiming to be a green center. The manufacturing hub launched an Aichi CO2 Emission Reduction Manifesto 2020, which encouraged local businesses such as Toyoshima to take action on climate.
Some of the actions taken by Toyoshima under this plan included more efficient lighting, using shades to cut back on sunlight and using fuel efficient cars. Toyoshima also added employee education through internal literature.