58
P. S. Kumar et al.
15 Future Scope and Limitations
Even though current research is focusing on developing modern technologies to
reduce the overall water footprint impact, there is still a very long way to go. The
textile industries need to embrace on sustainable development approach such as
the use of only organic cotton without any chemicals, a considerable reduction in
dyes, and in the production of less complex wastewater which is getting discharged.
Governments of respective countries should engage their respective divisions with
consumers and business networks to work towards the production of sustainable
consumer products. Even while calculating the water footprint for a specific sector, it
is very difficult to generalize the data and to give an overview for a conclusive remark,
each division of a sector has its potential impact contribution on water footprint by
which it makes it difficult for abstraction. Water footprint assessment just focuses on
examining freshwater having the primary importance of freshwater scarcity, it does
not take into account other environmental factors such as climate change, global
warming, soil degradation, and also on other social and economic factors.
16 Conclusion
Water footprint analysis can provide a detailed insight into the water usage of a textile
industry which is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Water footprint
in a textile majorly stems from the cultivation of cotton and dyeing processes at
the industrial level. Water footprint of cotton cultivation varies with the type of
agricultural practices adopted with organic farming using significantly less water
footprint compared to other methods of farming available. Dyeing process consumes
the most water footprint (10–300 L/kg fabric) when compared to other processes
involved. Acute estimation of the complete water footprint network of the textile
industry can help in minimizing the usage of blue, green, and grey water utilized and
simultaneously hindering the water pollution caused by this industry. Although it is
tiresome and difficult to account for water footprint for all the processes involved
in the textile industry including the labor consumptions, travel consumptions, etc.,
estimation of water footprint of the processes which consumes the majority of water
like wet processing unit and cultivation of raw material can provide a huge boost to
the sustainability of the whole textile industry.
References
1. Aivazidou E, Tsolakis N (2019) Water footprint management in the fashion supply chain: A
review of emerging trends and research challenges. Elsevier Ltd
2. Aivazidou E, Tsolakis N, Iakovou E, Vlachos D (2016) The emerging role of water footprint
in supply chain management: a critical literature synthesis and a hierarchical decision-making
P. S. Kumar et al.
15 Future Scope and Limitations
Even though current research is focusing on developing modern technologies to
reduce the overall water footprint impact, there is still a very long way to go. The
textile industries need to embrace on sustainable development approach such as
the use of only organic cotton without any chemicals, a considerable reduction in
dyes, and in the production of less complex wastewater which is getting discharged.
Governments of respective countries should engage their respective divisions with
consumers and business networks to work towards the production of sustainable
consumer products. Even while calculating the water footprint for a specific sector, it
is very difficult to generalize the data and to give an overview for a conclusive remark,
each division of a sector has its potential impact contribution on water footprint by
which it makes it difficult for abstraction. Water footprint assessment just focuses on
examining freshwater having the primary importance of freshwater scarcity, it does
not take into account other environmental factors such as climate change, global
warming, soil degradation, and also on other social and economic factors.
16 Conclusion
Water footprint analysis can provide a detailed insight into the water usage of a textile
industry which is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Water footprint
in a textile majorly stems from the cultivation of cotton and dyeing processes at
the industrial level. Water footprint of cotton cultivation varies with the type of
agricultural practices adopted with organic farming using significantly less water
footprint compared to other methods of farming available. Dyeing process consumes
the most water footprint (10–300 L/kg fabric) when compared to other processes
involved. Acute estimation of the complete water footprint network of the textile
industry can help in minimizing the usage of blue, green, and grey water utilized and
simultaneously hindering the water pollution caused by this industry. Although it is
tiresome and difficult to account for water footprint for all the processes involved
in the textile industry including the labor consumptions, travel consumptions, etc.,
estimation of water footprint of the processes which consumes the majority of water
like wet processing unit and cultivation of raw material can provide a huge boost to
the sustainability of the whole textile industry.
References
1. Aivazidou E, Tsolakis N (2019) Water footprint management in the fashion supply chain: A
review of emerging trends and research challenges. Elsevier Ltd
2. Aivazidou E, Tsolakis N, Iakovou E, Vlachos D (2016) The emerging role of water footprint
in supply chain management: a critical literature synthesis and a hierarchical decision-making