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Waste in Textile Value Chain

Environmental and Social impact due to l Dyestuffs (reactive dyes, disperse dyes, pigments, The main environmental issues linked with the textile Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), excessive noise
textile production etc.) sector are generated by wastewater discharge into or odour, and workplace safety. The figure below
l Utilities (Electricity, Steam, thermic fluid oil, water, fresh water bodies. Other critical environmental depicts the social and environmental implications at
air, etc.) problems include air pollutants, particularly each value chain level.
As described in the previous section, value addition
l Fuel (Coal, Natural gas, firewood, etc.)
occurs at each value chain level to transform fibres
into garments and at each level, the raw materials
Significant consumption of these resources due to Figure 10: Environmental and social impact of textile production processes
listed below are consumed.
inefficient processes has a negative impact on the
environment and the society.
l Chemicals and Auxiliaries (lubricating agents,
wetting agents, surfactants, etc.) Fibre Fabric Dyeing & Clothing Clothing
Spinning
Production Production Finishing Production Retailing

Figure 9: Resource consumption across value chain

High impact of Poor working Medium impact on Labour conditions
pesticides on environment human health
human health Exposure to noise Minimum wages
Social Impact Financial Impact on respiratory Child labour

dependence on
pesticide, synthetic
fertilisers and
health with exposure
chemical companies
Instability of cotton to cloth dust
prices.

Intensive use of Energy Intensity Toxicity of Low Impact
pesticides, synthetic chemicals (dyestuff
fertilizers and and additives)
other agricultural
Pollution of
products
waste-water and
Ecological Impact self-regeneration Use of AOX,
insufficient
Soil exhaustion and
degradability
destruction of
capacity
formaldehyde and
Legends: Disturbance of soil, heavy metals
water balance,
consumption
conatamination of
Chemicals & Auxiliaries Water drying out and Water and energy
sources
Use of agricultural
Dyestuffs Utilities
land

Fuel

Source: Environmental Analysis of Textile Value Chain: An Overview

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