Indigo Dyeing Report Sets Water Usage Benchmark

Responding to increasing scrutiny of vague sustainability claims, the Transformers Foundation, in collaboration with NDL - Naveena Denim Ltd and the Indigo Council, has introduced “A Reference for Water Consumption During Indigo Dyeing.” This is the first industry-wide benchmark assessing water use in indigo dyeing processes.

The benchmark sets foundational and advanced water use metrics for rope and slasher dyeing, based on data from seven mills across Pakistan, Türkiye, Italy, and China. Developed over several months with dye experts, mill technicians, machinery manufacturers, and chemical providers, the report aims to standardize data in an area often plagued by misinformation.

The findings show wide variation in water usage during post-dye rinsing between rope and slasher dyeing. However, both methods demonstrate potential for significant reduction in water use when managed with best practices. Emphasis is placed on monitoring, process control, and smart water use as key to reducing environmental impacts.

The Indigo Council consists of denim leaders like Candiani Denim, Crescent Bahuman, Diamond Denim, Naveena Denim, Soorty, Orta, and Advance Denim. Equipment support came from Morrison Textile Machinery and Karl Mayer, with bluesign® and DyStar providing technical guidance.

Amid tightening regulations like the EU Green Claims Directive, the UK Green Claims Code, and lawsuits in the US, the report arrives at a crucial moment, offering measurable, transparent data to substantiate sustainability claims. It acts as a tool for brands, mills, and innovators to evaluate new technologies and water-saving processes.

Importantly, the report avoids favoring one dyeing technology over another. Rather, it provides a flexible framework aimed at moving the denim industry away from unsupported marketing claims toward verifiable impact.

Transformers Foundation and the Indigo Council encourage wider industry collaboration to co-create transparent, open-source sustainability tools.

Statements:

Andrew Olah, Founder, Transformers Foundation:
"One of the most encouraging findings in this report is the willingness of mills to work together and share data transparently, a testament to Transformers' culture of collaboration. It’s a powerful reflection of the strength and integrity of our supply chain. Prior to this report, claims like ‘80% less water’ have frequently gone unchallenged. Without transparency and specificity, such figures become marketing jargon: just enough to sound responsible, never enough to be meaningful. Real sustainability requires real data, and this report provides exactly that."

Rashid Iqbal, Executive Director, Naveena NDL:
“Naveena NDL Denim has been focused on optimizing and innovating in denim production from the very beginning. That’s why we’re proud to collaborate on this industry-first benchmark for water consumption. Setting industrial standards prevents sustainability from becoming a buzzword, and keeps brands and suppliers accountable.”

Paolo Leidi, Technical Director, Transformers:
"This report marks a historic first in the denim industry, bringing together mills from across the globe to share verified, third-party data on actual water use. Our goal was not to rank mills, but to equip brands, designers, and retailers with meaningful benchmarks, enabling them to assess how seriously a mill is addressing water reduction. Most importantly, this report proves that open, honest collaboration is possible even among competitors when it comes to critical sustainability issues. We hope it sets the stage for ongoing cooperation across the supply chain, building a more transparent and responsible industry."

📖 Download the report (Available July 23, 9 AM ET)
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