The European Life Anhidra project has launched an innovative closed-loop system to revolutionize water management in the textile industry. At the Pizarro facility in Guimaraes, Portugal, key partners Jeanologia, Aitex, and Pizarro, alongside European Commission representatives, showcased Anhidra’s potential to reduce water consumption and improve sustainability.
Jeanologia, a leader in sustainable textile technologies, developed the system, which can regenerate up to 95 per cent of water used in textile washing and finishing. Anhidra offers remarkable results, including a 92 per cent reduction in water consumption, a 98 per cent decrease in wastewater, and up to 15 per cent energy savings.
The system eliminates the need for complex treatments, ensuring zero discharges and contamination. This not only minimizes environmental impact but also cuts operational costs, positioning Anhidra as a competitive solution for the industry.
Beyond water savings, the project focuses on circular economy practices. In collaboration with Aitex, it is exploring ways to reuse fibrous waste collected during water treatment to create new textile products. Vicent Albert, Jeanologia’s Product and Technology Director, highlighted the system’s role in demonstrating that sustainability and competitiveness can work together, establishing a new standard for the global textile industry.
Attendees at the launch event observed a live demonstration at Pizarro’s pilot plant and discussed the system’s technical and economic impact. Manuel Pizarro, CEO of Pizarro, highlighted Anhidra’s transformative role, calling it ‘a sustainable, efficient, and essential solution’ for resource-intensive industries.
Over the next five years, Anhidra aims to expand globally, with plans to install the system in 100 facilities, potentially saving 12.34 million cubic meter of water annually. Funded by the EU’s Life program, the project underscores how collaboration and innovation can address critical environmental challenges in the textile sector.
