Jeanologia published their 2024 report on innovations and challenges in denim finishing. Using their Environmental Impact Measuring (EIM) platform, they evaluated the current impacts on water consumption, energy consumption, chemical products and worker health. Using 337 manufacturers using EIM in 2024, Jeanologia found that 63% of the denim measured had a low environmental impact, 33% had a medium impact, and only 4% reached the high impact level. The category with the highest percentage of low impact processes was Energy Impact (the electricity usage over time), while the category with the highest percentage of high impact processes was Chemical Impact (hazard assessment of the chemical product or formulation use in the finishing process). The finishing process that attracts the highest Chemical Impact score is using pumice stones – which 16% of processes in this analysis used. Jeanologia identifies this as a “significant challenge for the industry to address.” Another critical concern is the impact that potassium permanganate blasting operations has on worker health and safety. This process is still used by 9% of the users in this analysis.
The report includes measures to reduce EIM score, including ways to replace pumice stones, and the digitalization of manual techniques. The last section in the report includes next step and calls for action – including a call to eliminate pumice stones and potassium permanganate processes just as sandblasting was. They invite more manufacturers to use the EIM platform to obtain the type of granular data required by the EU’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles:
“Our sector of the textile industry” – the denim sector – has a strong, if not the strongest community spirit. The spirit of the denim industry is a combination of innovation, tradition, and an increasing commitment to sustainability.
We share here a useful table that tracks the variety of environmental impacts in the denim value chain:
