Traditionally, the textile industry is energy,
water, and chemical-intensive. Dyeing and finishing
operations uses about 60% of the energy consumed in
the textile industry. Environmental problems
associated with the textile industry are that
associated with water and air pollution. Some of the
chemicals discharged are toxic. Other environmental
issues now considered equally important and relevant
to the textile industry include air emissions,
notably Volatile Organic Compounds. Atmospheric
pollution is now a major problem facing all the
countries of the world.
For a long time, developed countries were the
home for energy and pollution-intensive industries.
Now these industries are growing twice as fast in
developing countries. This responsibility shift
brings in the pressures for a pollution free
production system in the developing countries.
Pollution prevention is a responsibility as
sacrosanct to the textile industry as to others. To
conform to the environmental management directive, it
may be that EU will trade or do business with those
companies that demonstrate adherence to the standards
for pollution free production. There are previous
examples of such restrictions in case of child labour
in carpet industry and that on azo dyes. Textile
industry should take the environmental issues
seriously and gear up to meet the impending
challenges.
