Energy, Water – Top Risks for Textile Industry in 2023

Energy, Water – Top Risks for Textile Industry in 2023

Energy, Water – Top Risks for Textile Industry in 2023 1000 800 NTX

As we head into the future, the world is facing a number of risks that have the potential to disrupt economies, societies and industries. Many of these challenges appear in Eurasia group’s top risk report for 2023. The report highlights two risks – the impact of energy and water shortage – that make the textile production industry particularly vulnerable. With the energy crunch expected to occur in 2023 and water stress becoming a global and systemic challenge, the textile industry will be forced to grapple with rising costs, supply chain disruptions and social unrest. 

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the risks facing the world and the textile industry. We also explore the actions that textile producers can take to mitigate these risks and protect their businesses in the years to come. 

While the urgency to act is great, we believe it is not too late. As we dig into this topic, we are reminded of a famous saying about the best time to plant a tree being 20 years ago. This is our take on it: 

“The best time to invest in energy and water efficiency was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

~NTX

Focus on Energy Savings to Alleviate Supply Constraints

Textile production industries should be more focused on energy savings in light of the impending energy crunch that is expected to occur in 2023. The combination of geopolitics, economics, and production factors will lead to tighter market conditions. This will result in higher costs for businesses everywhere along their value chains. 

Our NTX® Cooltrans® solution focuses on just one step along the supply chain – textile dying and printing. We want to highlight some additional considerations relevant to the textile industry players: 

Energy audits: Conducting energy audits can help textile production companies identify areas where they can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Renewable energy: Investing in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. This can help textile production companies reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and lower their energy costs.

Energy-efficient buildings: Implementing energy-efficient building design and technologies can help textile production companies reduce their energy consumption and costs.

Energy-efficient process: Optimizing textile production process by using energy-efficient technologies, for example, by using low carbon technologies like NTX® Cooltrans® for the dyeing and printing of textiles. 

Collaboration and best practices sharing: Joining industry associations or networks and sharing best practices with other textile production companies. Collaboration can help textile production companies identify and implement new energy-saving technologies and best practices.

In Today’s World, Water Efficiency is a Must

Textile industries should also be concerned about water savings in light of the increasing water stress that is expected to occur in 2023. In 2022, receding water levels exacerbated the food crisis in Africa. Halted shipping and nuclear output in Europe, and led to factory shutdowns in Asia. Water scarcity also forced the United States to limit water releases in western states and triggered social unrest in Latin America. This heightened tensions between corporations and communities. Forecasts for 2023 are worse. Water stress will become the new normal with two-thirds of companies globally facing substantial water risks to their operations or supply chains.

In short, the consequences of water stress will worsen in 2023. But, there are practices that the textile industry can implement to help make the situation better: 

Water conservation: Implementing water conservation measures such as recycling and reusing water. This includes fixing leaks and using water-efficient equipment can help textile companies reduce their water usage and costs.

Water recycling and treatment: Implementing water recycling and treatment systems helps textile companies reduce their water usage. This also lowers costs and the discharge of pollutants.

Water-efficient processes: Optimizing textile production process by using water-efficient technologies and best practices can help textile companies reduce their water usage and costs.

Dyeing and printing processes: Investing in new dyeing and printing technologies that use less water and fewer chemicals, such as NTX® Cooltrans®, can help textile companies reduce their water usage and pollution.

Collaboration and best practices sharing: Joining industry associations or networks and sharing best practices with other textile companies can help textile companies identify and implement new water-saving technologies and best practices.

Conclusion

Our company has its roots going back to the turn of the century. Our mission has always been the same – try to move the textile industry towards a more sustainable industry by reducing its carbon footprint and water usage. We’ve developed one piece of the puzzle to help move the industry towards that goal. NTX® Cooltrans® is a process that is ultra energy and water efficient. More importantly, a process that is proven to work at scale. We call on the industry to get serious about doing their part.