In a significant development, four leading companies in the denim supply chain are unveiling a new project designed to provide a working roadmap towards more sustainable jeans production. This includes a prototype collection based on the most efficient use of resources. Archroma, the textile chemicals specialists and Garmon Chemicals, fiber producer Lenzing and denim fabric producer Royo have all joined forces for the 'Roadmap to Rational Denim' project, which is being launched at The Kingpins Show in Amsterdam and looks at producing denim in a more responsible way.

A staggering 1.84 trillion liters of water is used in the manufacture of jeans every month, with 11,000 liters of water needed to make one pair of jeans, and 167m pairs being produced each month. The idea for the project was to look to produce denim garments based on the most efficient possible use of resources, in particular water, at each stage of the production process – from fiber to finish. Each of the four companies contributed its expertise in a particular part of the manufacturing process to provide a working guideline towards more rational and sustainable production of jeans.