How much water is in your wardrobe?

Malaysian-based eco-conscious Earth Day Ambassador Melissa Tan discusses how fashion’s thirst for water is impacting our changing climate with Kurt Kipka from the Apparel Impact Institute. Learn about the ins and outs of how much water goes into making our clothes and shoes and how the industry is taking steps to ensure less draughts and water scarcity.

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PUMA has ten target areas, each with a set of goals, that we are striving to reach by 2025. This episode focuses on the target area of Water and Air. Water is really a vital ingredient used all the way through the production of what we wear. As well as being used to wash raw cotton, it’s soaked in dye using a lot of water and then washed clean. It’s also soaked in water-based chemical solutions. Water is also used in factory cooling systems, humidification systems that reduce static during weaving, the steam presses used to finish a garment and more.

What it actually means: Since 2015 we have increased the number of wastewater tests from 33 to 147 factories to ensure that hazardous chemicals are not being poured into and contaminating natural bodies of water, like lakes and oceans. This means that factories have efficient wastewater treatment plants in place.

Goal 1: 90% compliance with ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines94% of all factories with wet-processing facilities* (156 factories have wet processes) have been covered by tests, and tests show that all these factories have at least 90% compliance with the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines (foundational level).*Wet processing is the stage where raw materials (like cotton) are treated with colourants and/or chemicals.

Goal 2: 15% water reduction per pair or piece based on 2020 baselineWe have worked with our suppliers to reduce the amount of water being used during the making of a garment or pair of sneakers by 15%.

PUMA publishes all of its progress, challenges and setbacks in its Sustainability Report. You can find the 2022 report online now by going to about.puma.com