LEARN
Understanding the problem is the first step towards a solution! Keep scrolling to educate yourself about the wastewater produced by the consumer goods industry and how it affects us all.
The database below will show you options for how to take action on wastewater treatment.
CLICK HERE to learn how to use the toolbox
Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines
This is a page on The International Finance Corporation’s website that contains the most updated versions of the World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (known as the “EHS Guidelines.”) Source: The International Finance Corporation: World Bank Group SOURCE: International Finance Corporation
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Environmental Democracy Index
This is a map that tracks the state of national laws protecting transparency, participation, and justice in environmental decision-making. SOURCE: The World Resources Institute
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Current Technologies for Biological Treatment of Textile Wastewater
This is a paper that was written in 2012. It provides a critical review on the current technology available for decolorization and degradation of textile wastewater and also suggests effective and economically attractive alternatives. SOURCE: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
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Current Status of Textile Industry Wastewater Management and Research progress in Malaysia
This is a paper that was written in 2013. It reviews the current scenario with respect to textile industry effluent in Malaysia and technologies available for the treatment of the effluent. SOURCE: CLEAN – Soil Air Water
Clean by Design Report
This is a report written by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in 2015. It discusses NRDC’s green supply chain program in China. It provides ten best practices for textile mills and case studies applying these practices. NRDC launched its Clean by Design initiative in 2009 as an innovative “green supply chain” program to leverage […]
China – Discharge Standards of Water Pollutants for Dyeing and Finishing of Textile Industry
This is an article that was written in 2012. It discusses the challenges that remain despite wastewater standards keeping pace with water pollution development and technological advances. Source: SGS, an inspection, verification, testing, and certification company. SOURCE: SGS
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Chemicals Management Toolkit
This is a collection of chemicals management practices and processes to ensure safe and sustainable products throughout the supply chain. Source: The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), a membership-driven trade organization for the outdoor industry. SOURCE: Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)
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CEO Water Mandate
This is a website for an Initiative of the United Nations Global Compact that mobilizes business leaders on water, sanitation, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The website provides resources and encourages organizations to drive sustainability and security with water stewardship by signing a commitment. This website has been favored by members of our internal task […]
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Better Plants
This is a website for an Initiative of the US Department of Energy: Better Buildings. Better Buildings is designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial […]
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ASTM International
This is a website for ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials), an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. They also provide training and e-learning to show how to test methods in action.
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Aqueduct
This is a website provides maps that can be used to identify and evaluate water risks around the world. SOURCE: World Resources Institute
Agreement on Characteristics of Wastewater Discharged to a Receiving Body
This is a document in Spanish that outlines the terms of the 2009 Salvadorian agreement regarding wastewater. SOURCE: The Food Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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What is wastewater?
Wastewater is any water that has been used by humans. In the consumer goods industry, it is the water used to produce products and often contains chemicals and dyes. This water should be treated before it returns to the watershed, but that is frequently not the case.
What is the Wastewater 101 Toolbox?
The Wastewater 101 Toolbox is where brands, retailers, manufacturers, designers, and even the public-at-large can access education, training, and resources related to facilitating and incentivizing the proper treatment of wastewater in the consumer goods industry.
Why isn’t wastewater treated?
There are many reasons wastewater may not be treated. One is that people simply don’t understand the problem. Another is that once they do understand, they do not have the knowledge and tools to address the problem. One big reason wastewater goes untreated is that manufacturers lack the support needed to do so. Treating wastewater is expensive, and with increasing pressure to lower costs, manufacturers must make tough decisions.
Who is The Sustainability Consortium?
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a global non-profit organization working to transform the consumer goods industry by partnering with leading companies to define, develop, and deliver more sustainable products.
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.