The global denim industry is steadily progressing towards sustainability, according to the latest report by Environmental Impact Measurement. The second edition of Denim Industry Progress & Insights 2025 analyses over 100,000 real denim finishing processes, offering a comprehensive view of how the sector is evolving.
As one of the most resource-intensive segments within textiles, denim manufacturing plays a critical role in the broader transition towards sustainable production. Tools like EIM enable brands and manufacturers to measure, understand, and reduce their environmental impact with greater precision.
66% of Processes Now Classified as Low Impact
The report highlights a positive shift across the industry, with 66% of denim finishing processes now classified as low impact. This improvement is largely driven by process optimisation and the adoption of more efficient technologies.
The findings indicate that sustainability is no longer limited to isolated initiatives but is increasingly being embedded into operational systems across the value chain.
Water and Energy Efficiency Show Strong Progress
Significant gains have been achieved in resource optimisation:
- Water consumption remains stable at approximately 30 litres per garment, signalling a plateau after years of reduction efforts
- Energy performance shows the strongest improvement, with 85% of processes classified as low impact, supported by automation and modern equipment
While progress is evident, the report notes that further advancements will be required to reach next-level sustainability benchmarks.
Chemical Impact Emerges as Key Industry Challenge
Despite improvements in water and energy, chemical impact remains the most pressing issue. Around 27% of processes are still classified as high impact in this category.
Key challenges include:
- Continued use of generic or non-transparent chemical formulations
- Persistence of legacy techniques such as pumice stones and potassium permanganate
- Slow adoption of available sustainable chemical alternatives
This indicates a critical gap between technological capability and industry-wide implementation.
Worker Health Impact Sees Noticeable Improvement
The report also highlights progress in worker safety, with 68% of processes now categorised as low impact in terms of worker health.
This improvement is attributed to:
- Increased adoption of automation
- Reduction of manual, high-risk processes
- Improved workplace practices
Industry Needs Accelerated Transformation
Begoña García, creator of EIM and co-author of the report, emphasised the need for faster action:
“The industry has proven that it can improve when it measures its impact, but the next step requires accelerating the adoption of technologies and leaving behind practices that are no longer sustainable,” says Begoña García, creator of EIM and co-author of the report. “Today more than ever, we need reliable data to make informed decisions and move towards a real transformation of the industry.”
EIM: A Global Benchmark for Denim Sustainability
EIM continues to establish itself as a global standard for measuring environmental performance in garment finishing. The platform evaluates four key parameters:
- Water consumption
- Energy consumption
- Chemical impact
- Worker health impact
Each process is classified into low, medium, or high impact categories using standardised benchmarks, ensuring consistency and comparability across the industry.
Conclusion
The denim industry is clearly moving in the right direction, particularly in water and energy efficiency. However, the persistence of high chemical impact highlights the need for deeper systemic change.
With tools like EIM providing transparent and data-driven insights, the industry is better equipped to accelerate its transition towards more sustainable and responsible production models.
