The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), a US-based non-profit, has launched a new website that collates information of the causes, impacts and treatment of wastewater in the textiles industry, as to provide a “level playing field” for brands, manufacturers and retailers.

The free-to-use Wastewater 101 Toolbox has been developed to provide greater education for industry stakeholders via an assortment of established guidelines, maps, tools and reports.

TSC worked with Walmart, Fruit of the Loom, Hanes Brands, Cotton Inc., NC State and the U.S. Department of Energy to create the site; ultimately a platform which consolidates literature on the topic.

“The Wastewater 101 Toolbox fills a need – the need to easily connect people with resources and information about properly treating wastewater. Resources and information about wastewater treatment have been available but hard to find in one place,” said TSC’s director of innovation, Sarah Lewis.

“As a result of this industry collaboration, people can now more easily learn about wastewater and its impacts, share resources about treatment, and access information that helps them take action,” she continued.

The website is categorised by tools for learning and those with which firms can drive action. Regarding the latter, TSC has compiled the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines Version 1.1, 2017’s World Water Development Report, the Water Risk Monetizer and Water Pollution Map.

“The textile industry is very competitive. We believe in a level playing field when it comes to the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater, which is a very important issue,” said Philip Henson, director energy and sustainability, Hanes Brands.

Adam Wade, senior director of sustainability and risk management at Fruit of the Loom, concluded: “We were pleased to take part in the development of this Toolbox. The project was a perfect fit to apply our ‘Core Environmental Values’ that include commitments to activities directed toward the presentation and conservation of our natural resources and educating and encouraging our employees in the preservation of our natural resources.”

Courtesy: Eco Textile news