With the support of TÜV Rheinland, Takko Fashion is showcasing environmentally friendly clothing production
Sustainability is an important concern at Takko Fashion, but it comes with certain difficulties. The company requires chemicals to produce durable, high-quality clothing, yet these can have a major impact on the environment. Given these circumstances, how can greater sustainability be achieved? The fashion company draws upon the expertise of TÜV Rheinland to help square this circle effectively.
“We don’t believe that discount retail and sustainability are mutually exclusive,” says Dirk Stolz, Head of ESG at Takko Fashion. This understanding informs the company’s objectives and its approach to production, right from the first step. Takko is a member of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative, which aims to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from textile production processes by 2030. More than 320 companies from the textile, fashion, chemical and testing sectors worldwide, including TÜV Rheinland, are participating in the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero programme.
TÜV Rheinland is working to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals within the textile and footwear industry. As one of only a small number of testing companies involved, TÜV Rheinland is widely known for its range of services, including testing for harmful substances along the entire fashion industry supply chain. TÜV Rheinland also offers training in reducing the use of chemicals, operates a wastewater and sludge analysis laboratory and provides testing and training in the Facility Environmental Module (FEM), which assesses the environmental performance of production facilities.
For many years, it has been working successfully with Takko Fashion to provide training on the correct handling of chemicals and on audits to ascertain whether the company is implementing the recommended measures correctly. Another partner is GoBlu, a global initiative that aims to create greater transparency in the textile industry supply chain with the help of a network of local experts. It is only through a combination of careful testing, expertise and transparency that a change in mindset can be achieved in the industry, so that sustainability becomes an integral consideration as early as when raw materials are selected.
Watch our video to find out how we are collaborating with Takko Fashion and supporting the fashion brand on its journey towards sustainable production.
