Helping the textile industry reduce its water footprint

<< Background >>The textile industry is water intensive, representing 4% of global freshwater withdrawal. Improving environmental performance in the textiles supply chain is critical for the long‐term viability of the sector as well as the sustainability of ecosystems and communities. The water footprint (WF) is a measure of the appropriation of freshwater for production both in terms of the water consumption or pollution. WF assessment is a structured process to quantify the WF, assess its sustainability and use this information to identify strategic actions to reduce the WF and improve sustainability. Therefore, there is an inevitable need to spread knowledge and inform producers about freshwater use and the impact of their activities. WF assessment includes a comprehensive approach to the accounting of water consumption and pollution and strategic response formulation to address the world’s pressing water challenges. In response to growing concern about the over‐allocation and pollution of water resources, REWAFT aimed at producing results and organizing activities to raise awareness on the WF in the textiles sector and raise the sustainability skills of students and textile companies regarding the sustainable use of water in textiles.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the project was to raise awareness of the water use and the water footprint (WF) in the textile sector and to train HEI students and companies’ staff on how to reduce the WF in the textiles industry. Specific objectives of the project were: - To develop a model and an online tool for the measurement of WF in the textiles sector, to be used by companies and HEIs.- To develop Series of seminars for HEI students to help them gain the necessary skills to identify, measure and reduce the WF in textiles.- To develop an open e-learning course for capacity building and developing the skills of textile company employees in the field of responsible water consumption and reduction of the WF in the textile sector.- To prepare the good practices guide on the sustainable use of water in the textile sector. - To bring together academia and industry by involving industrial experts in the development of seminars for students and organizing delivery of lectures by experts from the business world. - To disseminate the project results and raise awareness about the impact of WF on textile industries’ sustainability and efficiency.<< Implementation >>To reach the project’ aim and to develop project’ results, the following activities were implemented:-Collection of case studies of measuring water footprint (WF) in textile industry.-Development of a modelling framework for calculating WF.-Development and piloting of an online tool for measuring WF in textile industry.-Organization of virtual study visits to textile companies participated in piloting.-Organization of an Industry Resource Group.-Co-design and delivery of series of seminars for HEI students.-Organization of transnational workshop “WF in textiles”.-Development and delivery of online course on WF in textiles for employees in the textile sector.-Implementation of action plans on how to reduce WF in textile industry and creation of a Good Practice Guide.-Dissemination activities for awareness raising on WF in the textile sector.<< Results >>Concrete outputs of the project were: -Combined report with case studies on efficient water use by textile companies.-Modelling framework for the calculation of water footprint.-Online tool for the calculation of water footprint.-Series of seminars and learning materials for HEI students, co-designed with industrial experts.-Online course on water footprint for textile company’s representatives.-Good practice guide with actions plans to reduce water footprint in textiles.Other results of the project were: -Piloting/measuring water footprint in textile companies.-Virtual study visits to textile companies.-Industry resource groups, created to ensure collaboration between HEIs and industry.-Delivery of series of seminars for HEI students.-Piloting of the online course with company representatives.-Organization of 4 national conferences (in Lithuania, Spain, Greece and 1 online).-Delivery of social media campaigns.-Presentation of project results in recognized scientific journals and international conferences.