Green Chemistry: Moving towards Sustainability with cost-neutral options and reduction of chemicals of day to day use at the textile plants with eco-friendly alternatives.
The textile industry is considered one of the most ecologically damaging industries towards water pollution/air pollution / Hazardous waste generation/human toxicity due to multiple chemical usages. There is a need to establish environmentally friendly practices within it by reducing day to day energy usage, wastage like drums/bags & other process waste/reduction in commodity chemical usage etc. With the rapid degradation of the environment, it becomes imperative to adopt more sustainable methods in the processes used by the textiles industry. Recently, there has been an increased effort to make the textile chemical industry more environmentally friendly. (2) It has attempted to effectively manage the discharge of harmful chemicals, notably by initiating programmes like Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC). Through such initiatives, the industry endeavours to establish long-term sustainable chemistry methods to ensure minimal waste discharge. (1) However, a strategy that advocates a multi-pronged approach towards addressing sustainability is required. Green chemistry and its implementation could help achieve more sustainability with its ecologically and economic benefits.
Addressing Environmental Degradation
The textile industry is known to have adverse effects on the environment by contaminating natural water bodies, using toxic materials, and inadequate waste disposal management. (1) Hazardous waste disposal techniques such as the disposal of used clothes in landfills also contribute to the massive waste generated by the textile industry. 90% of the chemicals in these fabrics are disposed of in landfills which degrade and contaminate the water bodies. (1) The textile chemical industry contributes towards environmental degradation in the following ways:
- Inefficient use of natural resources
- The inadequate and hazardous use of chemicals
- The extensive use of non-renewable sources
- The generation of the high volume of waste
- The inefficient use of transport (2)
The industry has taken up the challenge of achieving Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals by adopting sustainable chemistry. (1) The industry has pledged to invest in greener processes to reduce the waste of energy, resources, and time. (2) Green chemistry provides a solution for establishing a more sustainable world. Its principles address several critical environmental, health and economic concerns related to the textile chemical industry. (2)
Green Chemistry: Bring Sustainability
Green chemistry presents a solution towards ensuring sustainability in the long term. It can improve the effective use of resources and reduce the adverse impact on the environment. Companies are increasingly engaging in research and development efforts to reduce costs, ensure safety and ultimately reduce their environmental footprint. (4)
Green chemistry has minimal impact on the environment regarding energy and raw material usage, toxic emissions and waste generation. It is characterized as follows:
- It involves the use of renewable resources in eco-friendly processes
- It is non-flammable and non-toxic
- It is unlikely to undergo sudden reactions like explosions
- It is biodegradable
- It does not bio-accumulate in the environmental food chain (4)
By improving the use of resources, green chemistry provides financial benefits and environmental benefits to the companies. The Indian textile chemical industry is ramping up efforts to incorporate green chemistry in its approach. The adoption of green chemistry is at its infant stage but will aid in ensuring sustainability over a long time. (4)
The adoption of green chemistry can be supplemented with different approaches used in tandem. One way to make the industry more eco-friendly is to actively invest time and resources to transform its existing practices. Companies need to increase collaborative efforts with their partners to implement changes in their supply chain. These changes will not occur instantly, but we can reach our goal with the right strategy over time. (3) By ensuring better accountability and compliance in the supply chain, the industry can lay the foundation for the sustainable use of chemicals. (3)
Concluding Thoughts
Fineotex Chemical Limited (FCL) has actively participated in the global drive towards sustainability. We manufacture while ensuring the sustainability of the environment. With its extensive certifications and accreditations, we are committed to achieving zero waste in our practices. We encourage the use of non-toxic materials efficiently. Our partnerships with global players is a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability. FCL group trying our best to reduce the energy consumption in textile production factories with new concept/methods, reduction of wastage of empty drums/bags by supplying concentrate chemicals or reduction in the number of chemical usage in the process & the transportation emission with less no. of chemical in process or concentrated chemical supply.
For more information, visit www.fineotex.com
References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2452223617300664
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303389573_Green_chemistry_in_Textile_Industry
- https://www.textiletoday.com.bd/ensuring-chemical-sustainability-textile-value-chain/
- https://textilevaluechain.in/in-depth-analysis/articles/textile-articles/green-chemistry- in-textile/