Not all chemistry is the same …
Without dyes, there can be no coloured, high-performance fabrics – but the selection and use of the necessary chemicals are carried out by us with special care and due consideration of ecological standards.
Our chemicals management
Chemicals management is one of the most important areas of our environmental management. Due to the production location in Germany, German and European legislation already sets a high standard for environmental protection and occupational safety. All dyes and auxiliaries used are kept in a chemical register, and employees in the relevant areas are trained accordingly. When selecting products, the focus is not only on suitability and quality but also on other factors, e.g. emission data, AOX content and also product certifications. The consumption of dyes and auxiliaries in our production depends on various factors: Desired colour and colour intensity, composition and grammage of the fabric, as well as finishing and quality requirements.
Consumption of dyes and auxiliaries
2018/2019 | 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 | |
---|---|---|---|
Annual consumption | 1 291 313 kg | 1 296 028 kg | 1 368 044 kg |
per batch | 430 kg | 408 kg | 412 kg |
per meter | 137 g | 133 g | 137 g |
Residual liquor per meter | 8 g | 13 g | 11 g |
“By using our caustic recovery plant, a caustic regenerate with up to 75 % waste caustic can be obtained.”
> EMAS
> GRI 102–29
> GRI 416–1
Our standards
For more than 25 years, our products have been certified according to the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Kettelhack was one of the first companies to be certified according to this standard in 1992. Since then, we have had our range of fabrics tested every year by a laboratory for compliance with the specified limit values.
In addition, we are a member of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and have thus committed ourselves to complying with the ZDHC standard on the use of chemicals. This means that all dyes and auxiliaries used meet the requirements of ZDHC-MRSL 2.0.
The OEKO-TEX®STeP MRSL also covers all chemicals that are banned for intentional use under the current ZDHC MRSL. In addition, the STeP chemicals list also includes all substances and parameters required under the ZDHC Effluent Directive.
ZDHC stands for Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals and is an association of textile and footwear manufacturers. The ZDHC standard is a so-called Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL for short). The organisation’s goal is to reduce pollutants in production towards zero. The current ZDHC MRSL 2.0 is accompanied by various handouts on the concrete implementation of the requirements.
External links
→ ZDHC Foundation
→ OEKO-TEX® Website
→ Partnership for Sustainable Textiles
Precision work is required!
Certified dyes and auxiliaries, lots of experience – and a trained eye. The dyeing process used depends on the raw material. While dispersion dyes reach the inside of the fibre through a thermal process, vat dyes and reactive dyes build a chemical compound with the fibres.
“You may hear talk about ‘good’ chemicals and ‘bad’ chemicals, but the truth is that chemicals are neither good or bad. What matters is the context, how and where they occur and how they’re used.”
Detoxing the Fashion Industry for Dummies (2020)
You want to know more about chemicals in the textile industry?
Then “Detoxing the Fashion Industry for Dummies” is just the thing for you! This handbook by ZDHC Director Frank Michel simplifies complex issues and offers valuable insights into the textile chemicals world along the way.
Understandable for everyone, available free of charge for everyone! You can find more info → here
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Our environmental management
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About this report
The Kettelhack Sustainability Report 2020 was prepared in accordance with the GRI Standard Option ‘Core’. …
Not all chemistry is the same …
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