Investments in sustainable dyeing technologies are increasing amongst South American denim manufacturers. Peru-based Nuevo Mundo is the first South America-based manufacturer to adopt a sustainable dyeing technology after it abandoned chemical production of liquid indigo. Switzerland-based Sedo Engineering has developed Smart-Indigo™, a disruptive new technology to produce liquid indigo with oxygen being the only waste product. The technology uses electricity to produce liquid indigo for denim dyeing.

Creating healthier workplaces

As per a Textile World report, this makes the entire process free of hazardous chemicals, emit 90-per cent less carbon dioxide, consume 70-per cent less energy and 30 per cent less water at different stages of the process. A great protector of the environment, this technology helps create safer and healthier workplaces besides making production more economical. The technology is being used by 20 installations in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Italy in addition to this first installation in South America. It enables Nuevo Mundo to create a unique value starting from the indigo dye that is one of the two main components of the denim indigo imills, says Mayo, Owner,

Facilitating an ecological transaction

Being cleaner, the technology helps decrease the environmental impact of dyeing and facilitates an ecological transaction, adds. It liquefies the indigo powder by adopting a new approach that consumes fewer resources than existing methods. Using only indigo pigment, caustic soda, water and electricity, the process is fully automated with the clean liquid indigo produced, metered and fed directly into the dye bath. This is the most sustainable method to dye denims, believes Sedo Engineering as it enables consumers and clothing brands to drive the change towards sustainability.

Cost advantages

The process also gives producers the advantage of producing their own dye on-site in required quantities. This leads to cost savings due as no costs are incurred to procure chemicals or pre-reduced liquid-indigo. Additionally, it also reduces the costs or water, energy and wastewater treatment, and, is independent from suppliers.

With the textile world moving towards increased sustainability, brands and manufacturers need to change accordingly. Currently being driven by pioneers like Nuevo Mundo, the change is highlighting the requirement of balance between planet, people and profit.