Abstract:

The textile industry uses high volumes of water in a large part of its production chain, from obtaining the raw material until the product reaches the consumer, passing through a multitude of phases also known as "wet processes", where washing, dyeing, finishing, etc. are included. This consumption has increased in recent decades due to the new phenomenon known as "fast fashion", which has led to an increase in the production and sale of textile products where garments are designed and sold at a very fast pace due to changes in style and the influence of new trends. In this way, countless new garments and collections are designed, manufactured and sold on a monthly basis to meet the demands of consumer preferences.

This high production, and therefore high water consumption, has led to the importance of quantifying and measuring these quantities by means of a quantitative indicator known as the "water footprint". The water footprint is an environmental indicator that defines the total volume of freshwater used to produce the products and services we normally consume. It therefore provides information on the amount of water needed to manufacture a product and, consequently, is a measure of the impact of that activity on the environment. The measurement of this indicator is of great relevance and it is necessary to raise awareness among companies and improve their understanding, as well as to be able to know their status in terms of this indicator and establish alternatives to processes or products that generate a smaller water footprint.

The overall objective of the REWAFT project is to raise awareness of the water footprint in the textile sector. To achieve the proposed goals, a free online tool has been developed that helps textile companies to measure this indicator by answering different questions regarding their production volumes and resource consumption, concluding with the proposal of customised action plans for their reduction. In parallel, an e-learning course for decision-makers and people working in textile companies has been created, consisting of 12 units divided into 4 content modules. At the same time, a total of 5 seminars for students of textile engineering are being held to increase their knowledge of the sustainability of textile companies and the reduction of the water footprint. Several guest experts from the business world are also involved in these seminars.

Keywords:

Water Footprint, Textile, Water Consumption, Fast Fashion.