Sustainable transformation in the textile industry
Sustainable transformation in the textile industry: all you need to know
The textile industry is a key sector of the world economy. However, the production of fabrics is a resource-intensive process that requires the use of water, energy, raw materials and requires proper waste disposal processes. In recent years, the textile industry has made significant progress in reducing its environmental impact, through the adoption of more efficient technologies and the spread of more sustainable practices. However, there are still several steps to be taken to make the textile industry completely sustainable. To achieve this, it is essential to continue investing in research and development to improve existing technologies and develop new ones. In addition, the textile industry must continue to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices, both by producers and consumers.
Want to know more about the sustainable transformation in the textile industry? Here’s everything you need to know about the present and the future of the textile industry regarding the sustainability and digital transformation of production processes.
What does sustainability mean in the textile industry?
Encouraging sustainability in the textile industry does not only mean producing eco-friendly and environmentally friendly fabrics, but also working for a transformation of the entire textile and mechanical supply chain by investing in research and development of new digital and sustainable solutions. Only by focusing on innovation and the use of increasingly green and technologically advanced tools will the textile sector be able to develop processes and products with a lower environmental impact.
Some of the goals that the textile industry has achieved in recent years and should aim to improve are:
- reduce the use of water and energy in production processes;
- reduce the use of harmful chemicals at different stages of production processes;
- reduce the waste generated by tissue production;
- increasing the recycling and re-use of fabrics;
- increase the production of natural and biodegradable fabrics;
- use eco-friendly textile industry accessories or made from recycled materials.
Environmental impact textile industry: how to reduce it?
The environmental impact of the textile industry derives mainly from air pollution and solid waste production. The production processes in the textile industry require a large amount of water during different production phases, such as the washing of fabrics and the coloring of finished products. Waste water, therefore, must be properly treated to remove any pollutants before being released into the environment. Another factor that can have a considerable impact on the environment is the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, during the production cycle or hydrogen sulphide, chlorine and chlorine dioxide produced in the staining stages. To reduce them it is therefore essential to limit the use of chemicals and pollutants and prefer renewable energy sources, for example by promoting the installation of photovoltaic systems.
The use of eco-friendly textile industry accessories made from plastic or post-consumer recycled materials can also help significantly reduce environmental impact and waste. The reuse of multipurpose tubes for the different phases of yarn processing, for example, can ensure significant advantages, both from the economic point of view and the reduction of disposable tubes to be disposed of.
The digital transformation of the textile industry
The textile industry in Italy is undergoing a profound digital transformation. The new production processes allow greater product customization and greater control and flexibility in the management and optimization of production lines. The production lines can be easily adapted to the customer’s needs, according to the size and quantity of fabric required. In addition, you can easily change the production line according to the needs of the market. Thanks to the use of digital technologies it is also possible to monitor in real time the performance of the production line and get immediate feedback on production problems, reducing waste and directing production towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly processes.
