The ZDHC Foundation, which is working towards the zero discharge of hazardous chemicals throughout the industry, has updated its Wastewater Guidelines to assist the sector in reducing the impact of wastewater.

The ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines establish a single, worldwide defined expectation for industrial wastewater and sludge across the textile, leather, and footwear industries.

The most recent version combines previously separate guidelines for the textile and leather industries into one, giving the entire apparel industry a unified expectation for industrial wastewater and sludge and strengthening the Roadmap to Zero Program, which aims to eliminate harmful chemicals from the global apparel supply chain.

The ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines Version 2.0 was updated in partnership with the ZDHC Wastewater Council, a group of independent wastewater specialists from the garment industry, academia, and the water treatment industry. The council was formed to oversee the update and verify that the constraints and limits included were appropriate, strict, and practical.

The update comes after an independent Wastewater Council study and a public consultation to give all stakeholders a chance to comment on the proposed changes.

Tim Maloney, a member of the ZDHC Wastewater Council and lead technologist at startup and operations services, said that it was a pleasure and privilege to be a part of the ZDHC Wastewater Council as a wastewater professional of 40-plus years. The council members' knowledge, experience, and involvement impressed me greatly. The council includes not only a cross-section of the industry but also some of the essential players who will guide them ahead.

TextileExchange corporate benchmarking director Liesl Truscott, said that pollution poses a direct danger to biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. The ZDHC's support in handling wastewater from textile manufacturing will not only help the sector link the biodiversity risks but will also provide practical advice on positive practices.

The official ZDHC wastewater recommendations version 2.0 states that the rules will be evaluated and changed as needed in the spirit of continual improvement. It claims that the most recent version has been updated to include lessons learned and opportunities found through previous actual applications and implementation.