Report on Water Consumption in Indigo Dyeing and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Objectives

A forthcoming report by the Transformers Foundation, scheduled for release on July 23, aims to establish an industry-wide reference for water consumption in the indigo dyeing process. The primary objective is to provide empirical data that supports the industry’s transition towards more sustainable practices, directly addressing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative seeks to debunk outdated metrics, such as the claim that 1,500 liters of water are required to produce a single pair of jeans. By defining best-in-class water usage, the report will empower stakeholders to make informed decisions, thereby combating greenwashing and promoting transparency. This aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate verifiable sustainability information into their reporting, a critical need following the implementation of regulations like the EU’s Green Claims Directive.

Methodology: A Partnership for Data Integrity

The report’s findings are the result of a multi-stakeholder collaboration, exemplifying SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The research, financed by the Transformers Foundation and NDL by Naveena Denim, was conducted by a dedicated team of textile scientists. The study’s scope was precisely narrowed to focus on the water used exclusively in the pure indigo dyeing process.

• Key Collaborators: Seven leading denim mills (Candiani, Orta, Soorty, Advance, Crescent Bahuman) and two textile machine manufacturers.
• Techniques Analyzed: The report compares the two dominant industrial methods for indigo dyeing: rope dyeing and slasher dyeing.

Key Findings: Establishing New Benchmarks for Water Efficiency

The report establishes clear, data-driven benchmarks for water consumption, providing a critical tool for advancing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), particularly Target 6.4, which calls for substantially increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors. The findings demonstrate that modern, well-managed dyeing processes consume significantly less water than commonly believed.

1. Industry Water Consumption Benchmark (Post-Dyeing):
   • Rope Dyeing: 13–15 liters of water per kilogram of yarn.
   • Slasher Dyeing: 7–12 liters of water per kilogram of yarn.
2. Water Usage Per Garment:
   • Rope Dyeing: Approximately 1.7 liters per pair of jeans.
   • Slasher Dyeing: Approximately 1.5 liters per pair of jeans.
3. Process Efficiency Targets:
   • Rope Dyeing: A 93–95% efficiency rate is achievable.
   • Slasher Dyeing: An 85–94% efficiency rate is the target.
   • Falling below these thresholds indicates a waste of both dye and water resources.

Recommendations for Sustainable Industry Transformation

The report outlines several actionable recommendations for upgrading industry infrastructure and practices, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12. These recommendations focus on leveraging technology and operational discipline to minimize environmental impact.

• Adoption of Pre-reduced Liquid Indigo: This is identified as a key innovation for the future, as it significantly reduces chemical usage, water waste, sludge, and operator hazards. This directly supports SDG 6.3 (improving water quality) and SDG 12.4 (environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes).
• Optimization of Dyeing Techniques: While both have merits, the report suggests that a well-managed slasher dyeing process can outperform rope dyeing in terms of speed, cost, and water efficiency, representing an important pathway for resource conservation.
• Investment in Modern Machinery and Best Practices: The report highlights that remarkable efficiency gains are possible without relying on unproven “waterless” technologies. One surveyed mill achieved a water consumption rate of 3.4 L/kg through superior engineering and operational discipline alone, demonstrating how retrofitting industries, as per SDG 9.4, can yield substantial environmental benefits.

Conclusion: A Collective Path Toward a Better Industry

This report provides the denim industry with critical data to accelerate its progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By replacing myths with facts, it creates a foundation for genuine accountability and improvement. As stated by Andrew Olah, “Our industry has gone a long way towards improving its environmental impact. And it can do more. We all need to realize we are rowing in the same boat.” This sentiment underscores the importance of collective action and partnership, as championed by SDG 17, in building a more sustainable and responsible future for the denim sector. The full report will be released online on July 23, with a detailed discussion scheduled for a public webinar on July 31.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Transformers Foundation’s report on water consumption in indigo dyeing addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis reveals connections to the following goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The primary focus of the article is on quantifying and reducing water consumption in the denim dyeing process, which directly relates to the sustainable management of water resources. It also touches upon water quality by mentioning the reduction of chemical use and sludge.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article discusses the need for industrial process improvements, highlighting how “modern machines and best practices” and “solid engineering” can significantly reduce resource use. It compares different technologies (rope vs. slasher dyeing) and points to innovation as a key driver for sustainability in the denim industry.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The report aims to combat “greenwashing” by providing accurate data, thereby promoting sustainable production patterns. It seeks to empower buyers to make informed, responsible purchasing decisions based on real water-saving performance, which aligns with ensuring sustainable consumption.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative described is a collaborative effort. The article states that the report involved the “Transformers Foundation, seven mills, two machine manufacturers, and a small army of obsessive and time-generous textile scientists,” exemplifying a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve a common sustainability goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater. The article’s entire purpose is to “calculate how much water is actually used for indigo dyeing” and “define what best-in-class water usage looks like,” directly contributing to increasing water-use efficiency in the textile industry.
2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. The article supports this target by promoting “pre-reduced liquid indigo” because it “reduces chemical use, water waste, [and] sludge.”
3. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes. The article champions this by showing that “using the most modern machines and best practices can make a difference in saving resources” and identifying slasher dyeing as a potentially more efficient technology for the future.
4. Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The study’s focus on establishing benchmarks for water consumption (e.g., 1.5 to 1.7 liters per jean) is a direct effort to promote the efficient use of water, a key natural resource.
5. Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. The report’s goal is to “cut through greenwashing” and provide “updated and sound data” that allows buyers to differentiate between genuine sustainable practices and false claims, encouraging companies to be transparent and adopt truly sustainable methods.
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project itself, a collaboration between the Transformers Foundation (a civil society association), denim mills (private industry), and machine manufacturers (private industry), is a model of the partnership described in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several specific, quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Water Consumption per Kilogram of Yarn: The report establishes a clear benchmark indicator: “the average post-dyeing water use is 13–15 liters per kilo for rope dyeing, 7–12 for slasher.” It also provides a best-practice example of “one mill hit 3.4 L/kg.” This metric directly measures water-use efficiency (Target 6.4).
• Water Consumption per Final Product: The article translates the primary metric into a more relatable indicator: “it requires about to 1.7 liters per jean for rope dyeing or about 1.5 liters per jean for slasher dyeing.” This helps in communicating resource efficiency to consumers (Target 12.2).
• Process Efficiency Percentage: The article mentions a direct indicator of process efficiency: “Rope dyeing should yield 93–95% efficiency, while slasher reaches 85–94%.” It clarifies that falling below these percentages means “wasting dye and water,” making it a clear indicator for resource efficiency in production (Target 9.4).
• Adoption of Cleaner Technologies: While not a number, the article implies that tracking the adoption of “pre-reduced liquid indigo” can serve as an indicator for progress towards reducing chemical pollution and improving water quality (Target 6.3).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: the-spin-off.com