Jeans Processing and Water Reuse Systems in a Brazilian Semiarid Region

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the water reuse and technological innovation employed in industrial jeans processing activities in a dry region. Toritama in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco is a part of a ten-city agglomeration involved in garment production and processing. Laundries in Toritama carry out dyeing, wear, fading, and other interventions that add value to the jeans items. This activity uses large quantities of water, which is scarce in this region. Due to rising environmental concerns, the public control agencies passed legislation to ensure the laundries install a water treatment system to treat the effluents. Laundries view the requirement as a disadvantage as small non-formalized laundries are not obliged to implement reuse technology. Method/design/approach: This study used a combined quantitative and qualitative approach to understand the complexity of the social phenomenon. The research was carried out over 2018 and 2019 in formalized laundries. The use of water in the improvement processes and the stages involved were investigated, in addition to determining the cost impact of water reuse. Results and conclusion: the implementing an innovative water treatment system and reusing water plays a critical role in reducing environmental damage caused by industrial activities while also bringing down production costs. Research implications: thus, the study highlights that it is possible for enterprises to gain a competitive advantage while being mindful of the environment. Originality/value: our research fulfills the important role of clarifying the reality of organizations located in regions of peripheral economy that, despite suffering with their specificities, still have space for environmentally and socially sustainable actions.