ABOUT US
Wastewater affects everyone on the planet, and it is only fair that everyone does their part to solve the issue.
In 2017 it was brought to TSC’s attention that, while wastewater is a known hotspot in the textiles industry, many manufacturing facilities forego its treatment, creating an uphill battle for those in the industry who are trying to do the right thing. TSC partnered with North Carolina State University to research the issue and begin to understand why wastewater is not being treated.
A landmark study conducted by China Water Risk, completed in 2017, diagnosed three key barriers to wastewater treatment in Chinese textile clusters:
1) a need for more training,
2) more help with chemical and technology sourcing, and
3) more financial support.
These factors resonated throughout the academic and trade literature, which eventually became the Resource Library. Given the challenges and opportunities outlined above, The Sustainability Consortium’s Wastewater Challenge Task Force has created this Toolbox of resources to help manufacturers, brands, retailers, and other partners address barriers to treatment.
While this work began with the textiles industry, it has expanded to include all sectors of the consumer goods industry.
To give everyone from retailers, to wastewater operators, to the general public the knowledge, tools, and support they need to make better decisions about wastewater treatment. We envision a landscape where 100% of wastewater is properly treated, and everyone has a part to play- whether it’s on the ground action or supporting brands that are doing the right thing.
This publicly available online platform includes resources which are both global in nature and specific to regional industrial clusters, as such regions and resources are identified. This project has focused its initial scope on addressing the gaps and needs identified by The 2017 China Water Risk assessment.
It is the long-term vision of the task force to develop an industry challenge called The Wastewater Challenge. This industry challenge would invite brands and retailers to sign on and commit to only sourcing product that has been produced with proper wastewater treatment practices in place.
The Toolbox is envisioned to provide the foundation of this industry challenge, creating a point of reference for brands and retailers to use when challenging their suppliers to implement appropriate technologies for treating wastewater. This type of market signal will drive incentives for treating wastewater and it will also drive people to the Toolbox to create more awareness of the issue.
About the Task Force
Since 2017 The Sustainability Consortium has been leading a task force of industry leaders to design, create, and pilot the Wastewater 101 Toolbox. Together we have rigorously combed through the research, asked the tough questions, and created a dynamic process of collaboration to present the issues, our research, and solutions in the most useful way possible.
The Wastewater Challenge Task Force is comprised of brands, retailers, and NGOs with global supply chain and sustainability expertise- but more than that they are people who genuinely care about the issues and have demonstrated both dedication and resilience through every phase of The Wastewater 101 Toolbox’s creation.
Task Force Members
| Kurt Kipka | Apparel Impact Institute |
| Michele Wallace | Cotton Incorporated |
| Jesse Daystar | Cotton Incorporated |
| Steven Pires | Cotton Incorporated |
| Robert Lung (goes by Bruce) | DOE |
| Scott Mock | Fruit of the Loom |
| Adam Wade | Fruit of the Loom |
| Philip Henson | Hanes |
| Mohan Seneviratne | Independent consultant |
| Erin Wong | IPE |
| Dr. Karen Leonas | NC State University |
| Jacqueline Sewell | NC State University |
| Jessica Kosak | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Sarah Lewis | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Jennifer Park | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Erika Ferrin | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Nathan Bolivar | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Yuliya Lapatkova | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Kevin Dooley | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Carolyn Baltz | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Jessi Kosak | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Jessi Leonard | The Sustainability Consortium |
| Lance Cheramie | University of Arkansas |
| Laurie Marie McAlister Apple | University of Arkansas |
| Rachel Kraus | University of Arkansas |
| Carol Crawford | WMEP |
| Greg Gasper | WMEP |
| Paul Reig | WRI |
| Scott Echols | ZDHC |
| Frank Michel | ZDHC |
| Philip Chung | ZDHC |
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a
global organization leading the transformation
of the consumer goods industry to deliver more
sustainable consumer products. TSC convenes
diverse stakeholders and members to build
science-based decision tools and solutions that
address sustainability issues.