In textile sector, the most polluting units are dyeing, washing and printing factories. Accordingly we have invested heavily on Blue Planet Knit Composite Ltd. (which houses the dyeing, washing and printing) to make the operation sustainable. If we can make Blue Planet Knit Composite a sustainable production unit; all our concern becomes naturally sustainable. While the growth is imminent it is imperative that the development should happen in an environmentally sustainable manner. In this context Blue Planet Knit Composite Ltd. (BPKCL) ensured and support advanced solutions for production processes that contribute to environmental management. BPKCL (Blue Planet Knit Composite Ltd.) is committed to achieving sustainability milestones by the year 2027 in three key environmental areas:

  • 1. Sustainably sourced cotton : +80%
  • 2. Recycled Polyester content : +50%
  • 3. Water consumption of our manufacturing operations per unit production : -25%
  • 4. Specific Greenhouse gas trajectory per annum : -20%

Five threads imbedded in the DNA of BPKCL for sustainability

1.Carbon Footprint and Energy Conservation: To minimize the carbon footprint the project is designed to accommodate a 5.5 MW solar power system which can consistently generate, on an average, 3.5 hours of electricity to the operation. This drastically reduces the carbon footprint. The production of textile products requires a significant amount of energy, and BPKCL is committed to use as much renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources as possible. At our facilities the power generation efficiency is as high as 87%. Emphasis has been given carefully for the energy conservation. Apart from installing EGB (Exhaust Gas Boiler) we are using soft water for generator cooling and the hot water from generator is supplied to steam boiler for energy efficiency. We also recover steam form the operational processes which further increases the energy conservation. Instead of direct gas burning in fabric dryer and finishing machines, we use thermo oil boiler for less gas consumption and efficiency. Insulation on all kind of conduits carrying heated liquids/gas is a common attribute of the project for energy conservation. These measures have dramatically increased the energy efficiency level of the project. To measure the utility consumptions we have installed energy meter on every point of consumption to accurately monitor the consumption. All sorts of liquids are measured by flow meter at every consumption point. All these data are fed to SEDO energy master (A world renowned German software) for transparent reporting on energy consumption.

2. Water Conservation: Dyeing and finishing processes are the most water intensive stages of textile production. Every drop counts, so responsible water stewardship is a necessary and important focal point for reductions and improvements at our facilities, particularly against the backdrop of stressed water supplies in many regions around the world. Responsible water stewardship starts with using less fresh water in our processes. Compared to our baseline target we have consumed less water and as a result BPKCL has achieved ‘Excellent’ grade in the ‘Care for Water’ initiative of Inditex. Our next stage of sustainability initiative is to install RO (Reverse Osmosis) system with the help of which we can re-use 60% of the ETP outlet water for actual production process. The pre-requisite of RO installation is membrane technology which we already have incorporated in our ETP. Once we install the RO and solar power, we will be eligible for ‘Care for Planet’ certification and that will make Blue Planet Knit Composite the only entity on earth with that certification. This indicates the depth and breadth of its sustainability initiatives. For further development RO is going to be installed which will enable to re-use the recycled water up to 70%. BPKCL complies with strict government guidelines and procedures. BPKCL has invested significant capital in water treatment systems, operator training and resources to improve wastewater quality.

3. Recycling and Waste Reduction: BPKCL views the promotion of circularity as a primary solution to successfully reducing landfill waste from the textile industry. To achieve this goal, we work to reduce and reuse byproducts created in our operations, and recycle as much as possible of the remaining materials. We closely track our monthly waste and recycling metrics. We strive to maintain zero waste to landfill. By adopting policy of discarding damaging processes like bio polish (enzyme) we are determined to reduce fiber loss by 2%-3%. This is a bold and timely measure appreciated by prominent brands.

4.EHS and Social Responsibility Compliance: Global safety and social responsibility are foremost commitments to our employees, customers, and communities. We audit our performance through 3rd party social compliance audits and customer audits.

5. Education and Environment: For a program to have success, education is a key component. We are committed to providing educational support and sharing knowledge with our employees and customers on sustainability and certification programs and invested in external training for our employees.

Due to our sustainability initiatives, we have achieved ‘Excellent’ category in Care for Water by INDITEX. There are only two steps to take; installation of solar power and RO and that will make the project in the category of ‘Care for Planet’ which will be first in the world.