From the Sector

ZDHC announced the publication of the Recycled Polyester Guidelines V1.0 and Industry Standard Implementation Approach V1.0.

The use of recycled polyester has grown increasingly, growing by 3.5% to 8.9 million tonnes in 2023. In order to support the fashion industry with a framework for sustainable chemical management in the production process for bottle-to-textile and textile-to-textile recycling processes, ZDHC has developed these transformative guidelines.

Objective:
The document sets requirements, across three chapters, for recycled polyester manufacturers on key chemicals used in recycled polyester processes, the recovery and reuse of these chemicals, safe chemical storage and handling, worker safety and the environmental impacts of commercially viable processes on wastewater, air and sludge.

Chapter 1
Input management covers bottle/textile feedstock and chemicals used as inputs in recycled polyester production.

Chapter 2
Process management covers best practices, including chemical recovery, safe storage and handling of chemicals for worker safety.

Chapter 3
Output management covers emissions from wastewater, sludge and air from the production of recycled polyester fibre.
‍
‍Expectations by ZDHC:
Brands should share these guidelines with their relevant suppliers and build in the request to implement these guidelines into their strategy and policies.
Suppliers should study these guidelines and take relevant actions to ensure implementation.
Solution providers should review the test methods and limits detailed in the guidelines.

January, 3rd, ZDHC announced the release of the updated ZDHC Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) Guidelines Version 2.0, and its supporting document. By publishing these documents the industry shall be pushed forward increasingly innovative and sustainable fibre production.

The ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.0 now include the Responsible Fibre Production Guidelines, Wastewater Guidelines and Air Emissions Guidelines as three separate chapters in a single document.

Fibres are key components of production processes in the textile and fashion value chain and it is crucial to reduce the environmental impact of their manufacture. ZDHC guidelines give suppliers producing MMCF unified criteria for measuring output indicators like wastewater, sludge, air emissions and other process-related parameters.

Among other changes, this update reflects the expansion of the scope to accommodate Viscose Filament Yarn, Lyocell, Cuprammonium Rayon (Cupro) and Cellulose Acetate (Acetate). The ZDHC Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) Guidelines V2.0 provide an aligned approach for included fibres, including defined chemical recovery, wastewater and sludge discharge, and air emission discharge.

ZDHC continues to advocate for the improvement of processes which minimise emissions while also working towards the recovery of input substances and by-products. These dual goals, reduction and recovery, directly address the negative impact of outputs arising from MMCF production.

ZDHC MMCF Guidelines Industry Standard Implementation Approach Version 2.0: Additional Industry Support for Implementation
Along with the ZDHC Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) Guidelines V2.0, ZDHC has also updated its ZDHC MMCF Guidelines Industry Standard Implementation Approach. This document aims to support the implementation process of the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.0, and features new implementation timelines that assist suppliers in setting their goals to achieve Foundational, Progressive or Aspirational Level on the ZDHC Supplier Platform.