Processes, water consumption, high use of hazardous chemicals are just some of the challenges that the denim industry continues to face, says a report claiming to be the first ever on the environmental impact of denim finishing even as it calls for sustainable alternatives and adoption of advanced technologies.
THE REPORT, Innovations and Challenges in Denim Finishing: 2024 Report, by denim major Jeanologia is based on analyses by its EIM or the Environmental Impact Measuring tool on accurate, objective data from over 115,000 denim finishing processes collected through the EIM platform, setting new benchmarks for sustainability in the industry.
- It aims to guide the garment finishing industry towards greater environmental responsibility by identifying challenges, uncovering opportunities, tracking progress, and promoting transparency through a comprehensive examination of environmental metrics.
- The data for this analysis was collected using the EIM (Environmental Impact Measuring) software throughout 2024 (from 1 January to 31 December).
FINDINGS: The report reveals that 63% of the analysed processes are already classified as low environmental impact, reflecting a positive shift toward more responsible practices.
- It also highlights critical challenges, such as the high use of hazardous chemicals (24% of processes), particularly pumice stones and potassium permanganate—practices that urgently require safer and more sustainable alternatives due to their negative effects on both the environment and worker health.
- Progress in water consumption management is also considered, as this remains one of the key environmental challenges for the textile sector.
- The report shows that the current average water usage in denim finishing is 30 litres per garment—still above the recommended benchmark of 22.5 litres per garment.
- Effective strategies for reducing water consumption include optimising rinsing processes, selecting fabrics that require less aggressive treatments, and implementing technologies such as ozone, e-flow, and smart foam systems.
- Among the proposed improvements are also the adoption of advanced technologies to reduce chemical use and protect worker health, such as the strategic selection of ZDHC-certified chemicals and the automation and digitalisation of manual processes.
ABOUT: EIM or Environmental Impact Measuring, is a software platform designed to evaluate the environmental impact of garment finishing processes. It evaluates the impacts aross four categories: water consumption, energy consumption, chemical products and worker health. The results are calculated and EIM scores are generated in a simplified traffic light format classifying the overall process into low, medium, or high impact.
- With nearly one million processes analysed, EIM’s reliability is supported by an accreditation programme and external validation by independent firm GoBlu International Limited, which rigorously audits systems and processes to ensure data accuracy.
Key features of EIM:
- Identify high-impact areas and take action to reduce environmental footprint.
- Compare different processes to make informed choices.
- Monitor the effectiveness of those choices.
- Encourage adoption of new finishing techniques to reduce environmental impact.
- Provide a standard measure for the environmental footprint of garment finishing, regardless of production location.
- Provide a standard measure for the environmental footprint of garments finishing, regardless of machinery used.
- Offer a new decision-making element for both B2B and B2C buyers.
EIM is thus a versatile and powerful self-accreditation tool which helps both technical and non-technical understand the manufacturing process and assess the environmental impact of their garments.
- The fact that the EIM. (Environmental Impact Measuring software) relies on internal specialist knowledge and expertise from the sector, the results that it produces are relevant, accurate and comprehensive. Therefore, the vision is that benchmark guidelines for the garment processing sector will sit alongside or be adopted by these other key guidelines and standards, demonstrating the denim finishing industry is serious about driving environmental improvements
WHAT THEY SAID:
For years, the textile industry has lacked reliable tools to measure its environmental impact, making data-driven decisions difficult. This report marks a crucial step toward transparency and continuous improvement, showing that technology is key to measuring and reducing environmental impact.
— Begoña García
Creator / Co-Author
EIM platform
