Bluesign’s 2023 Report Highlights Sustainable Manufacturing Gains
Bluesign reduced three billion-plus kilograms of carbon emissions over the past four years—the equivalent of producing nearly 1.5 trillion burgers, per carbon footprint platform OpenCO2’s calculations.
In its 2023 impact report, the Swiss material verification firm highlights its commitment to environmental stewardship by breaking down how it defines environmental key performance indicators (eKPIs) and spotlighting internal data as well as that of select Bluesign system partners.
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“Together with you as our system partners, we’ve embarked on a transformative journey, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact we’ve made. Your dedication to reducing environmental impact (eKPIs) has been remarkable, reflecting our shared vision for a sustainable future,” Daniel Rufenacht, Bluesign’s CEO, wrote to the company’s 864 partners in the report. “Every step forward signifies your determination to make a positive difference. These collective efforts are not only preserving our planet but ensuring a thriving future for all.”
Those 864 partners span 50 different countries. The global network includes 296 Tier 2 textile manufacturers. Of those, 226 had primary, plausible data utilized in the report.
With those 226 manufacturers, several savings were achieved. Cumulatively, from 2019 to 2023, about 6.3 billion liters of water were saved through efficient practices and recycling processes. Roughly 773.6 million kilowatt-hours of energy were saved, and over 3 billion kilotons of carbon emissions were reduced.
One of the Madewell partner’s eKPIs is the percentage of Bluesign-approved chemistry, which currently sits at 56 percent. Although this “seems modest,” the company said, the system was initially implemented in the outdoor industry and recently expanded to other sectors like footwear and denim. That expansion includes more partners using non-typical chemicals not yet in the Bluesign Finder—the company’s comprehensive database of over 20,000 approved substances—though the champion of sustainable manufacturing has committed to keep adding to that list.
“Bluesign approved chemistry ensure more than consumer safety; it promotes sustainable practices for clean production,” the report reads. “Ultimately, our goal is to grow our network of Bluesign system partners, increasing the use of Bluesign approved chemistry, in turn creating more of a positive impact.”
System partner Dongjin Textile is showcased in the report for its impressive feats. Bluesign assessed the Vietnam-based manufacturer before suggesting some tweaks for sustainable savings. Recommendations were made for water consumption to be collected on the machine level in the dyeing process, reducing the high redyeing rate, reusing low-polluting rinsing baths from exhaust processes and backing away from using coal as its primary thermal energy source. The following assessment showed a healthy drop in heating energy (17 percent) and carbon emissions footprint (77 percent), mainly due to swapping coal for biomass.
The textile chemical management specialist highlights its partnership with MAS Holdings in the report as well. The Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing giant teamed with Bluesign last January to focus on resource efficiency, environmental impact, health and safety at work, and consumer protection.
“Systems and standards such as Bluesign act as catalysts to disrupt the way clothes are made, offering solutions for sustainable apparel manufacturing,” said Sugath Disanayake, MAS Capital’s chemical sustainability manager. “Adhering to such systems helps eliminate harmful substances and sets stringent standards for environmentally friendly manufacturing.”
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