Transformers Foundation, Naveena Denim, and Indigo Council set water benchmark for denim processing
Transformers Foundation, in partnership with NDL – Naveena Denim Ltd and the Indigo Council, has introduced the industry’s first cross-sector water usage benchmark for indigo dyeing. The report, titled “A Reference for Water Consumption During Indigo Dyeing,” is based on data collected from seven denim mills across Pakistan, Turkey, Italy, and China. This benchmark offers both baseline and best-practice metrics for rope and slasher dyeing systems.
The initiative saw collaboration from dye experts, chemical suppliers, and mill technicians, as well as input from machinery makers like Morrison Textile Machinery and Karl Mayer. The process also had oversight from bluesign® and DyStar, ensuring comprehensive insights into the dyeing process.
The findings of the report highlight significant discrepancies in water usage, particularly during the post-dye washing and rinsing stages. The research shows that water consumption can be significantly reduced through efficient monitoring, smart water management, and consistent process control.
As environmental claims in the industry come under scrutiny, with the EU Green Claims Directive and UK Green Claims Code targeting misleading claims, this benchmark offers brands and mills a transparent, evidence-based framework to validate and compare their sustainability efforts.
The Indigo Council, a group dedicated to improving sustainability in denim production, includes brands like Candiani Denim, Crescent Bahuman, Diamond Denim, Soorty, Orta, Naveena Denim, and Advance Denim.
Andrew Olah, Founder of the Transformers Foundation, emphasized the importance of accurate data in sustainability efforts, stating, “Real sustainability requires real data. This report finally replaces vague marketing claims like ‘80% less water’ with verified industry-wide benchmarks.“
Rashid Iqbal, Executive Director of Naveena Denim, echoed this sentiment, saying, “By setting industrial standards, we move sustainability beyond buzzwords and into real accountability.”
Paolo Leidi, Technical Director at Transformers, highlighted that the goal of the project was not to rank mills but to provide stakeholders with reliable data. “This proves transparency and cooperation are possible—even among competitors,” Leidi said.