Global Tannery of the Year shares its water achievements
10/06/2013
China Water Risk is a non-profit initiative dedicated to highlighting water risk and fostering efficient and responsible use of China’s water resources. In the article, written by PrimeAsia’s environmental manager, Sarah Swenson, the tanning group said it calculates its water footprint at 3.3 litres per square-foot of finished leather, but it said only 1% of the total corresponds to water consumed in its tanneries.
PrimeAsia takes responsibility for 5% of a cow’s life-cycle water consumption. Ms Swenson points out that this is in accordance with The Water Footprint Assessment Manual: 2011. PrimeAsia’s water footprint ends at the door of its customers’ factories.
Breaking down the 3.3 litres of water consumed during the lifecycle of each square-foot of leather, PrimeAsia calculates that 91% is consumed during the life of the cow, 5% is consumed in the beamhouse (PrimeAsia’s two tanneries in Vietnam and in Guangdong Province in China work from wet blue), and 3% is consumed during the manufacture of the chemicals it uses in its processes.
Water-saving practices at both PrimeAsia tanneries include collecting rainwater for use in production processes, reuse of water within the production process and extensive use of recycled water throughout the facilities. A 2013 trial reedbed water treatment project at the tannery in Vietnam aims to increase water that tannery’s recycling levels (currently 34%) in a constructed wetland system that increases water quality and reduces effluent discharge volumes. The annual company-wide water reduction goal in 2013 is an absolute reduction in water usage of 11% compared to 2012.
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