Sustainable Production Methods in Textile Industry

Abstract

The textile industry is part of the industries that continuously harm the environment because of the high water consumption and the presence of various pollutants in the wastewater. Wastewater treatment is lacking or includes only physical treatment in underdeveloped and developing countries due to installation and operating costs of a treatment plant. As a result, a broad spectrum of hazardous and toxic substances, such as (azo) dyes, heavy metals, acids, soda, and aromatic hydrocarbons, pollute precious sources of clean water, in which untreated water is discharged. The main solution to this problem is to reduce the treatment cost. For this purpose, the process should be optimized to reduce the amount of water and chemicals. In this chapter, first studies on the reference document (BAT) referred by the European Council are reviewed. Minimizing production costs, obtaining high-quality products, and reducing the amount and the pollutant content of wastewater are complex problems that cannot be solved by the conventional optimization methods. Therefore, nonconventional optimization methods applied on the textile processes are also reviewed from the latest studies in the literature.

Resource Efficiency in Innovative Textile and Clothing Industry Ecosystems: Evidence from Western Balkan Countries

“…The identification of energy-intensive processes along the value chain of the industry (e.g., spinning and weaving) can shape the transition path toward the use of renewable energy, thereby reducing the environmental impact of the sector (Shiwanthi et al, 2018) Additionally, the efficient use of resources can be complemented by utilizing eco-friendly raw materials to reduce a good portion of the negative impact along the value chain (Ikram et al, 2021). For example, oil-based synthetic fibers can be replaced with low carbon footprint plant-based materials, and polyester fiber which has double the carbon footprint of that of a cotton shirt can be substituted with natural and organic fibers, a necessary action for better resource efficiency in the textile and clothing industry (Gönlügür, 2019). This research aims to determine the level of resource efficiency of textile and clothing enterprises, which is a prerequisite for the creation of innovative regional ecosystems.…”