Quantifying environmental sustainability of denim garments washing factories through effluent analysis

Shamsuzzaman, Md, Kashem, Md Abul, Sayem, Abu Sadat Muhammad, Maroof Khan, Adnan, Shamsuddin, Sayed Md. and Islam, Md Mazedul (2021) Quantifying environmental sustainability of denim garments washing factories through effluent analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 290 (25). (doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125740).

Abstract

This paper deals with the environmental impact of effluents released by denim garment washing factories in Bangladesh. Both untreated and treated effluent samples were collected from five denim washing factories identified as representative cases and were subjected to chemical testing as a part of the case study. The results were compared against the acceptable limits of parameters-chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), the potential of hydrogen (pH) and color. Findings show that COD and BOD values are well within the acceptable limit in all of the factories studied but only 20% of the factories could achieve acceptable DO levels. Around 40–60% of the studied washing factories showed evidence of improved filtration systems for TDS and TSS values, but only 40% of factories produced clear wastewater. 60% of the factories met an acceptable pH level of 6–8 before releasing their effluent to the environment. The study reveals the technical limitations of effluent treatment practices of the denim garment washing factories in Bangladesh. The findings will appeal to all stakeholders, including academics and researchers, to give serious attention to reducing environmental impact of industrial garment washing process. They will help industry practitioners with more comprehensive information to take strategic action in making denim garment washing factories in Bangladesh more sustainable.

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