TEXTILES.ORG
Hong Kong and mainland Chinese companies in the textile and garment industry are trying to burnish their image and do right by the environment by adopting more sustainable practices.
The Hong Kong-based Esquel Group, one of the world’s largest garment producers and suppliers, recently opened a green manufacturing park in Guilin, Guangxin province, to showcase its innovations and efforts in sustainable supply.
The company, which produces clothes for brands including Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, demonstrated what it calls waterless dyeing technology. The process reduces water use in the overall dyeing process by 95% while eliminating the use of salt and reducing energy consumption by almost 40%, according to the company.
Esquel has been working with research institutes across China to develop cotton with high resilience against climate change and diseases and has also invested nearly $5 million in sustainable projects related to clean energy and smart manufacturing through its newly established Esquel Ventures.