Page 15 - TEXtalks International May/June 2022

14 14 Rising water concerns: Textile

CBL goes for “Smart Factory 4.0” journey
Industry to play a crucial role

Already aspiring to deliver “the greenest Saleemi in a recent Fireside Chat with Sourcing GSP+ Insights Report
Freshwater is a limited resource, and it represents only 2.5% of the total available water on Earth.
ecosystem that denim has ever seen,” Crescent Journal founder and president Edward Hertzman.
Many world regions, including a few textile production countries, such as India, China, and Paki-
Bahuman Limited is taking other supply chain
stan, face significant water scarcity challenges. Since the textile industry is water-intensive, these
imperatives head on with the launch of its “Smart The factory is 27 percent through the upgrade. highlights Pakistan’s initiatives
water-stressed production countries need to find appropriate solutions to ensure their long-term
Factory 4.0” journey and implementing tracing Beyond the “Smart Factory,” Crescent Bahuman
water sustainability. Therefore, minimizing the freshwater requirement and recycling the treated
technology from PaperTale. The digitization Limited’s implementation of the
wastewater would be appropriate tools to deal with the rising water crisis and other issues.
investments come as the denim manufacturer blockchain-enabled PaperTale will further help
aims to fortify its ongoing sustainability and the company reach its goal to make 80 percent to promote textiles
The significant challenges of textile wastewater recycling are mostly related to the technologies
transparency initiatives with the support of more of its fabric with recycled materials by the end of
and their economic feasibility. Although the technological advances in membrane design and
granular data. 2023. Crescent Bahuman, Pakistan’s first
applications have reduced the cost, the capital cost is still considerably high for small and
vertically integrated denim facility, was
medium scale industries. If freshwater in that production region is very expensive, the advanced
The “Smart Factory” update at Crescent inaugurated in 1995. Since then, CBL – as it is
Bahuman’s Lahore, Pakistan facility is designed lovingly known in the industry – has gone from
treatments are worth the investment.
to give on-site managers real-time information on strength to strength by creating an eco-friendly
shop floor activity and other vital environment that enables its most important
Moreover, the high-pressure-driven membrane systems require a large amount of energy. For
sustainability-related metrics like water resources, our people, to develop and deliver to
countries with high electricity costs (Pakistan), the operational cost of effluent treatment plants
measurements and its energy usage, noted clientele satisfaction.
would also be higher. As a result, per m3 of treated recycled water would be more expensive than
per m3 of freshwater, which is not financially viable. Membrane systems are also prone to fouling
and need regular maintenance. It is also challenging to have a skilled workforce to operate these
advanced technologies in many regions. Thus, the textile sector should look forward to reducing
water utilization by switching to waterless technologies and the sector’s role is becoming crucial to
saving global water supplies.
Government to present business-friendly

budget: Miftah Ismail
China’s textile exports reached

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail, said that the government aimed at inclusive
$48.82 billion
and sustainable economic growth by presenting a pro-people and business-friendly budget for
2022-23. During a meeting with a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (FPCCI) led by its President Irfan Iqbal Shaikh, the minister commended the budgetary
China’s textile and apparel exports maintained The textile industry in China is the largest
suggestions proposed by the chamber members for various sectors of the economy and assured that
growth momentum in the first four months of globally in overall production and exports.
the suggestions of all stakeholders would be given due regard.
the year, said China National Textile and Appar- China’s significant advantage in the textile
The minister acknowledged the influential role of FPCCI in acting as a bridge between the government
el Council, citing data from Chinese customs. industry is price. Their exports are usually
and traders. He shared with a delegation that macroeconomic stability was a prime concern of the
Textile and apparel exports rose 8.65% year on cheaper than in many other countries like Brazil
present government. The current political situation is not good in Pakistan, and the
year to 95.84 billion US dollars from January to or Thailand. China can do this so easily due to
budget 22-23 is near.
April, the data showed. Textile exports reached the small amount of pay they offer their
48.82 billion dollars, up 11.14 percent from a year employees. Compared to other countries, they
There is a significant concern for the industrial and business people regarding the upcoming budget.
ago, and apparel exports were 47.02 billion are among the lowest in pay. Although this
Earlier, the former government had shown some reasonable measures to bring Pakistan into a state
dollars, an increase of 6.17 % year on year. In does not benefit Chinese workers, it works
where ease of doing business was observed and praised by the international community. The
April alone, the country’s textile exports edged up to the advantage of countries trying to
country’s textile exports boosted to the historical levels. Thus, industrialists are looking for the
1.63% year on year to 23.59 billion dollars. buy their products.
upcoming budget to get maximum relaxation considering that the current government is known for its
business background.
April/May 2022
May/June 2022