…to deem anything as “ethical” comes with a series of implicit values, cultural perceptions and sustainable thoughts. Because of the subjectivity in the word “ethical” make it more explicit by the term “sustainable fashions.” Sustainable means something that does not deplete through material extraction, does not exhaust through production and does not pollute through either of the above, and can act as the raw materials for a new product when it reaches the end of its life. Basically a circular economy of “cradle to cradle” production. From raw material extraction to the production of textile fibres, the industry’s upstream processes rely heavily on our world’s finite resources including land, water, and energy. Once designs are brought to life, the impact of the fast-fashion model of production and consumption is apparent in the growing volume of low-quality apparel that quickly becomes textile waste, for which there are limited positive end-of-life solutions.
- Countering fast, cheap fashion and damaging patterns of fashion consumption
- Defending fair wages, working conditions and workers’ rights
- Supporting sustainable livelihoods
- Addressing toxic chemicals usage
- Using and / or developing eco- friendly fabrics and finishing chemicals
- Recycling and addressing energy efficiency and waste
- Developing or promoting sustainability standards for fashion
- Resources, training and/ or awareness raising initiatives
- Animal rights
Fashion and textiles are considered the second largest polluter in the world after oil. It also accounts for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, uses a quarter of chemicals produced worldwide each year, and falls just behind agriculture in the amount of water it consumes. Our greed for new clothes, now seems exceeding more than 100 bn pieces produced worldwide each year, more than double what was made in the year 2000. What’s worse is that three out of five of those items then end up in landfill within the same 12 months. Fashion no matter what angle you look at it from, is seriously damaging our planet. So we have to change it. We have to look at producing durable garments on the one hand, but we also have to think about alternatives through innovation because the commercial side of this business is never going to really change that argument around volume. Quite simply, we need a future of more innovative textiles and sustainable textile production in order to protect the world in which we live.
Intelligent product designing by Clean Technology
We need to find smarter, and more systems-based innovative solutions to these problems, if we want to start living sustainably in this planet. We can radically alter the sustainability agenda where consumption is the biggest problem and intelligent product designing by Clean Technologies are the best solutions.
From Atlantic we have a collection of concepts wherein we can explain the positive impact of those concepts on providing healthy and user friendly working conditions to produce toxic free garments and also the cost benefits. In order to achieve our goal of Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals, mechanism of disclosure and transparency about the chemical compositions and method of functioning in global supply chains are important and necessary. In line with the ‘right to know principle, we are completely disclosing the chemical combinations and its insipidness in the discharge water. While designing the product, attempts made in all possible angle, not only to quantify the greenness of ingredients but also to factor in other variables such as chemical yield, cost of reaction components, process cost, chemical safety in handling, hardware demands, energy profile and ease of product application, purification from environment etc…
All the products detailed below are screened for the Persistence (P), Aquatic Toxicity (AA), Carcinogenicity(C), Acute mammalian Toxicity (AT), Bio accumulation (B), Chronic Aquatic Toxicity (CA), Mutagenicity & Genotoxicity (M), Systemic Toxicity & Organ Effects (Incl. immunotoxicity) (ST), Flammability (F), Reactivity (Rx), Neurotoxicity(N), Reproductive toxicity (R), Developmental Toxicity (incl. developmental Neurotoxicity (D), Sensitization (SnS), Endocrine Activity (E), Respiratory Sensitization (SnR), Skin irritation (IrS), Eye irritation (IrE) etc.
MUDD Finish
Clean Technologies from Bleaching Earth
Bleaching mud of both the naturally active and activable type are abundant and widely distributed in the Northern part of India. Active bleaching mud result when base in the surface of the clay particle are replaced by the hydrogen and hydroxyl of acid. These are driven off as water by heat, leaving the open bonds essential by heating. Bleaching power is at maximum when only parts of these bases are removed. The clay materials are classified in to Kaolinite, halloysite, beidellite, nontronite and montmorillonite. All these have essentially the same chemical composition 2H2O.Al2O3.2SiO2, but they differ slightly one another by internal structure. We need to dehydrate it to absorb other enhancing additives to accelerate bleaching action. Dehydration imparts adsorbing power to clay.
Moderate dehydration to 200oC is sufficient to develop full bleaching power and desired adsorption properties. Acid leached clays are given the heat treatment following acid treatment and washing to bring out the full potential of clay for colour reduction. The clay chosen for mudfinish are a composition of naturally occurring mud such as motmorillonite or bentonite in combination with per hydroxyl oxidizer, suitable wetting, and viscosity control agents. Meticulous research is going on in Atlantic to expand the possibilities of it in many other garment finishing options.
The modified clay is finely dispersed in the form of non-settling, non-separating crystals which can be dispersed with water and used easily. Two properties of montmorillonite crystals enable as use in denim garments processing.
- Dyes are absorbed from the fabric and the liquor due to the high specific surface area. (Novosize OXY and D boost L 70)
- Na+ Content in the mud work duel effect as bleach stabiliser and colour extractant.
In water clay particles are anionic charged and show large adsorption effect for, Hydrophobic dyes and additives, Metal ions (Cation exchange by Na+). Hydrophilic materials and polymers added during fabric processing. The powder or agglomerate particle of the clay divided into primary crystal plates caused by the swelling of the clay. The average size of primary crystal plates of the clay is approximately 1 mu. After being dispersed in the treatment liquor the dyes and the contaminants are absorbed by the clay particles, resulting in a gradual colour reduction and reduced re-deposition of leached out contaminants. This is a natural product washes of the treated textile materials and forms an effluent having low BOD and COD values. The clay does not contribute BOD, COD values at all.
Attempt has been made to explore the possibility of finishing textiles from medicinal plant extracts from material like C Sapam, Basil leaves, sweet Citrus, lemon grass, neem, red sandalwood, etc. These extracts are a pure form of eco-friendly material and have already tested successful application on textiles. These technologies are called “clean technologies” which is been used to produce eco-friendly textiles.
Any product which is extracted, made, used and disposed in a way that it completely or significantly reduces the harm it would otherwise cause to the environment is called eco-friendly products. Application of herbal extract on textiles with finishing agents is an attempt we have started with this R&D MuddFinsih. Finishing fabric with herb and plant extract could impart various properties like anti-microbial, anti-itching, fragrance, anti-allergic, anti-septic, coolness and freshness etc.
Hetro functional Immobilized enzymes from Atlantic
Hetro functional enzymes developed from fungal strain chrysosporium, without being genetically modified cam Impart high strength retention, abrasion, high polished look and low back-staining.
Multipoint covalent immobilization of enzymes on support surfaces promotes a very interesting ‘rigidification’ of cellulase protein molecules. Immobilization is often the key to optimising the operational performance of cellulase by binding to a prefabricated support, entrapment in organic polymer matrix and cross linking the enzyme molecules. This novel entrapment method is known as CLEAs (Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates). By this low concentration of enzyme can use for higher results.
More convenient handling of enzymes.
- High strength retention
- Better results in low concentration
- Minimize or eliminate protein contamination
- Efficient use of enzymes
- Enhanced stability and improved performance
- User friendly – active in both acidic and neutral conditions
Nature has been a source of inspiration for every path breaking innovation in this world for ages and how could have Atlantic remained oblivious to this fact. In tune with our mission of restoring the creation of mother nature and preserving the invaluable gifts of finite natural resources like pure water and clean air, our R&D keeps on its efforts on improvisation of existing products and innovation on new. Adhering to our resolve to meet the norms of ethical fashion, we strive hard to create a world environmentally greener and safer place for the generations to live. Our responsibility towards growing concerns on human health and environmental safeguards stand best reflected in the fact that Atlantic care chemicals deals only green screened and ZDHC certified chemicals.
