Defining sustainability with metrics or risk greenwashing of fabric digi...

Defining "sustainability" in the context of fabric digital dyeing involves specific metrics related to environmental, economic, and social impacts of the dyeing process. These metrics help ensure transparency and avoid the risk of greenwashing. Here are key metrics to consider:

Environmental Sustainability Metrics:

1. Water Usage: Digital printing typically uses significantly less water than traditional methods. Therefore, digital dyeing is expected to follow suit.
2. Chemical Usage: Digital dyeing consequently requires fewer and less dyes and harmful chemicals. Importantly, it eliminates the need for salt, which often disrupts wastewater treatment processes and increases costs.
3. Energy Consumption: Electricity is typical clean energy to be used for – Digital Dyeing Houses.

The greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generation vary widely, ranging from less than 0.01 kgCO2e/kWh for renewables like nuclear, wind, and solar, to around 0.9 to 1.1 kgCO2e/kWh for coal-fired power plants.

4. Waste Generation: Using 20 – 30 percent of water consumed in traditional dyeing.

Digital dyeing should produce less waste and less dyes and chemicals content and free from salt.

5. Carbon Footprint: Rotary printing house uses natural gas and heated oil; natural gas emission is 2.03 kg CO2 per cubic meter plus 2.68 kg CO2 per liter oil. Total is 4.71 kg.
6. Effluent Quality: The less quantity of waste makes it easy and cost effective to treatment.

Economic Sustainability Metrics:

1. Cost Efficiency: Taking into account the cost metrics of textile digital printing compared to traditional methods, along with the projected market share, estimated at USD 2.7 billion for 2024 and expected to reach 4.36 billion by 2031, and considering its significant ecological benefits, I believe digital dyeing will prove to be cost-effective.
2. Production Speed: Considering the absence of salt that will shorten the overall process and the ease of use, digital dyeing can speed up the process.
3. Scalability: Digital dyeing will be highly efficient in adjusting production levels to match demand fluctuations without experiencing notable cost increases or overburdening resources as proven from digital printing metrices.

Social Sustainability Metrics:

1. Worker Safety: Inspiration from industry leaders such as: Transcontinental Inc., Bertelsmann Printing Group, and RR Donnelley. By adopting similar strategies, comparable success in minimizing hazards and ensuring a safe working environment for all employees is achievable.
2. Job Creation: Digital dyeing represents a significant advancement beyond digital printing, supported by successful examples such as Kornit Digital, Spoonflower, Printful, and FabFad. These companies have demonstrated the creation of new jobs with fair wages through the establishment of production units both locally and globally.
3. Community Impact: Digital textile printing can save as much as 95% of industrial water usage, whilst energy consumption can be reduced by 75% - leading to the minimum use of resources and textile waste (Advanced Market Analytics), by FESPA, 28/06/2021. Digital dyeing follows the same technique.

Avoiding Greenwashing in Fabric Digital Dyeing:

1. Transparency: An important development seen by environmentalists, consumers and producers is that there is a significant decrease in electricity and water consumption in digital textile printing. It can be said that over 30% savings on electricity costs and almost 95% in terms of water consumption. Research gate: June 2019, International Journal of Science Technology and Society 7(2):38
2. Third-Party Certifications: Inks, chemicals, and auxiliaries used in textile digital dyeing should obtain certifications from reputable organizations (e.g., OEKO-TEX, GOTS) to validate claims about reduced environmental impact and safe chemical usage.
3. Lifecycle Analysis: The proven reduction in water consumption, accompanied by lower usage of dyes and chemicals, and the absence of salt, along with the practice of coloring fabric on the face-side only, significantly reduces processing time. This not only extends the fabric's lifecycle but also decreases recycling costs.
4. Stakeholder Engagement: It is crucial to educate stakeholders—customers, employees, and local communities—about verified sustainability claims that are both accurate and meaningful. This transparency helps inform and engage everyone involved, ensuring a shared understanding of our commitment to sustainability.
5. Consistent Messaging: We acknowledge certain limitations in digitally printing wool, particularly with hairy wool, where achieving high-resolution images is hindered by the need to lift print heads above the fibers. However, this issue does not arise with digital dyeing for solid colors. Moving forward, our next challenge lies in developing solutions for blends such as Polyester/Cotton.

By focusing on these metrics and principles, companies can credibly define and promote the sustainability of fabric digital dyeing, minimizing the risk of greenwashing.

Thanks for watching, comment and following!

References:

Emissions Calculations:
https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/simplified-ghg-emissions-calculator

https://www.ecoonline.com/blog/electricity-emissions-factors-and-how-to-calculate-your-electricity-emissions#:~:text=Total%20electricity%20consumption%20value%20is,N2O%20per%20kWh

https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/co2_vol_mass.php

Market analysis and economic cost efficiency:
https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/digital-textile-printing-market

Social Sustainability Metrics:

https://tctranscontinental.com/en-ca/node/57

https://www.bertelsmann.com/corporate-responsibility/reporting/

https://www.rrd.com/about/commitments/sustainability

https://ir.kornit.com/

https://www.spoonflower.com/en/about

https://www.printful.com/recent-updates

https://www.fabfad.com/

FESPA
https://www.fespa.com/en/news-media/the-environmental-benefits-of-waterless-digital-textile-print-ink-systems

Research gate

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335417050_Innovations_and_Analysis_of_Textile_Digital_Printing_Technology

 

Digital Dyeing: Fashion’s Sustainable Future #waterscarcity #facts #pol...

Today, we're exploring the concept of digital dyeing, a trend generating buzz in the fashion industry. Digital dyeing offers the promise of easily changing textile dyeing with a simple click, reducing water waste and pollution associated with traditional dyeing methods. This technology utilizes inkjet technology similar to textile digital printing, offering precision without extra material costs. While experts believe digital dyeing can deliver vibrant colors and durability comparable to traditional methods, challenges such as costs and equipment availability hinder widespread adoption. Despite this, digital dyeing has the potential to revolutionize fashion by water saving and reducing environmental impact. Do you think digital dyeing is the future of fashion or just a passing trend? Share your thoughts!

Digital Dyeing for Sustainability and Quality #waterscarcity #pollutionc...

Hello everyone, we embark on a journey towards a brighter, more sustainable future for textiles.

Traditional dyeing methods, while familiar, often raise environmental concerns.

However, digital dyeing offers a revolutionary solution by minimizing water usage, energy consumption, and the need for harsh chemicals.

This approach not only benefits the environment but also reduces production costs, making it a win-win for businesses and the planet.

By choosing digital dyeing, we support water saving, while also reducing wastewater production and minimizing pollution. This holistic approach ensures a brighter future for generations to come. Let's make mindful choices that benefit both people and the planet.

Digital Dyeing: Fashion’s Sustainable Future #environmentaladvocacy #wat...

Digital Dyeing: Fashion’s Sustainable Future

Hey, everyone. Today we're diving into a topic that's buzzing in the fashion world.

Digital dyeing. Is it the future of fashion? Let's find out.

Imagine a world where the colors on your clothes could be changed with just a click. No more dive at no more water waste. Just pure vibrant color at your fingertips. That's the promise of digital dying.

But what exactly is digital dyeing? Simply put, it's a technology that applies colors to fabric using inkjet technology similar to what you use for printing on paper.

Sounds pretty cool, right! Now why is this a big deal?

Well, traditional dyeing consumes a lot of water. I'm talking thousands of liters just to produce a single t-shirt. It also involves chemicals that can be harmful to our environment.

Digital dyeing slashes that water usage and cuts down on pollution. Plus, it offers incredible precision. This means less waste and more possibilities for customization. Want an eco-friendly fabric with no color contact with skin! Digital dyeing can make that happen without any extra material costs.

But here's the kicker. Can digital dyeing deliver the same quality as traditional methods?

Many experts say yes, the colors are vibrant, the fastness and durability are crisp.

Moreover, this process has the potential to revolutionize our approach to fashion.

While it's achievable, as demonstrated by digital printing, the technology is still evolving, and widespread adoption faces challenges such as costs and equipment availability that need to be tackled.

So, what do you think, is digital dyeing the future of fashion or just a fleeting trend?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I'm super curious to hear what you all think.

Thanks for tuning in and remember, fashion is not just about following trends; it's about setting them until next time.

Stay stylish.

Revolutionizing Textile Production Embracing Digital Dying for Sustainab...

Revolutionizing Textile Production: Embracing Digital Dying for Sustainability and Quality

Hello and welcome to a journey toward a brighter, more sustainable future for textiles. Just as we tidy our homes to spark joy. We can approach textile production with intention and care for our environment, traditional dyeing methods. While familiar often spark concern due to their impact on our planet today, I'm delighted to introduce you to the magic of digital dyeing. A revolutionary process that minimizes our environmental footprint while maximizing creativity and quality water. The lifeblood of our planet is a precious resource that deserves our utmost respect. Traditional textile dying consumes vast amounts of water leaving a trail of concern in its wake. Digital dying offers a refreshing solution using up to 70% less water than conventional methods. Imagine the positive ripple effect this has on our rivers, lakes and communities. This mindful approach to water consumption aligns with our values of cherishing resources and preserving our planet for generations to come by embracing digital dying. We not only reduce water usage but also minimize the energy required for heating and pumping water throughout the dying process. This translates into lower energy consumption and a lighter environmental footprint. The economic benefits are equally compelling as reduced water and energy consumption lead to lower production costs, making sustainable practices.

A win win for businesses and our planet. Traditional dying often involves a complex cocktail of chemicals and colorants. Some of which can raise concerns for both human health and the environment. Digital Dying takes a gentler approach, employing a surface coloring method that significantly reduces the need for harsh chemicals. This method eliminates the need for salt. A common ingredient in traditional dying processes that can contribute to water pollution. Imagine a world where vibrant textiles are created with a lighter touch where the colors we love are achieved with a mindful selection of ecofriendly dyes. Digital dying allows us to embrace a spectrum of vibrant hues while minimizing our impact on the environment and safeguarding the wellbeing of textile workers and consumers alike. This shift towards gentler more sustainable practices aligns with our desire to create a world where beauty and responsibility go hand in hand by choosing textiles produced with digital dying. We support a more conscious approach to fashion and design. The journey of a garment extends far beyond the moment we bring it home. Traditional dying methods often generate significant amounts of waste water which can carry harmful chemicals and colorants into our ecosystems if not treated adequately. Digital dying offers a breath of fresh air in this regard, dramatically reducing waste water production and minimizing the risk of pollution.

This sustainable approach aligns with our deep respect for our planet and all its inhabitants. By choosing digital dying, we contribute to cleaner water, healthier ecosystems and a brighter future for generations to come. The reduced environmental impact of digital dying extends beyond wastewater reduction. The minimal use of chemicals and water translates into reduced energy consumption during the dying process. Further lowering the carbon footprint of textile production. This holistic approach to sustainability encompasses every step of the journey from the sourcing of raw materials to the final product. As we've explored the many benefits of digital dying, I hope you're filled with a sense of hope and inspiration. Just as we carefully select the items that spark joy in our homes, we can choose textile production methods that spark joy for our planet. By embracing innovation and conscious practices, we can create a world where vibrant fashion and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Thank you for joining me on this journey toward a more sustainable future for textiles together. Let's make mindful choices that benefit both people and the planet. Remember even small changes can have a significant impact.

Female Climate Scientists opt for Fewer Children Due to Environmental Co...

According to the Guardian May 10th 2024.

A Guardian survey reveals that nearly 1/5 of female climate scientists have chosen to have no or fewer Children due to concerns about the environmental crises facing the planet. Many of these scientists including prominent figures like Prof Camille Parmesan cite fears about the future and the impact of adding to the global population as reasons for their decisions. The debate over the role of population growth in environmental issues has been ongoing with some scientists emphasizing the importance of stabilizing population growth to preserve biodiversity. While others argue that consumption levels are equally significant.

To read the full interesting article. Follow the link in the description.

In my opinion, this is a negative reaction!   

It is imperative for everyone to not only acknowledge the urgency of addressing climate change but also to actively educate others. As many remain unaware of the critical state, our planet is in each expert in their respective field must either devise solutions or advocate for research aimed at mitigating these changes. As an expert in textile dyeing and printing, I recognize the substantial environmental impact of textile wet processing, particularly conventional methods which contribute significantly to water consumption and pollution. Therefore, I believe that influential organizations such as the United Nations, the Eu USAID, as well as countries like the USA, Scandinavian Countries, Italy and Germany along with public figures should prioritize support for digital printing technologies due to their considerable water conservation benefits and reduced waste pollution. Moreover, efforts should be directed towards promoting and incentivizing the production of digital dying fabrics which can save over 70% of water and lead to less polluted wastewater.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment #waterscar...

According to European Parliament March 2024: Textile production and waste have significant environmental impacts, including overconsumption of water and natural resources, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and low recycling rates. Fast fashion exacerbates these issues by promoting mass production and consumption of low-quality items. To address this, the EU aims to reduce textile waste, increase recycling, and promote sustainable practices through eco-design requirements, extended producer responsibility schemes, and consumer education. Proposed measures include stricter regulations, improved collection and sorting systems, and targets for waste reduction. Negotiations on these initiatives will continue with the new European Parliament elected in June 2024. To read the full article click the link in description. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-waste-on-the-environment-infographics In my view, the EU ought to restrict conventional printing production and more support digital printing due to its significant water conservation benefits and reduced waste pollution. further more, the emphasis should be on promoting and incentivizing the production of digital dyeing fabrics, which can save over 70% of water and result in less polluted wastewater.  @WaterWiseDefenders