Ø This sustainable, zero-discharge solution aims to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of one of the world’s most water-intensive industries.
With the introduction of its cutting-edge closed-loop technology for treating and recycling textile wastewater, the European LIFE ANHIDRA project reaches a significant sustainability milestone. ANHIDRA was presented as a ground-breaking solution that is revolutionizing water management in the textile sector during the event, which was held at the Pizarro plant in Guimarães, Portugal. Along with representatives from the European Commission, the event brought together the project’s main partners: the Portuguese textile company Pizarro, the Spanish company Jeanologia, which designed and built ANHIDRA and is a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile sector; and AITEX, the Textile Industry Research Association.
A key solution to reduce the textile industry’s water footprint
An estimated 93 billion m³ of water are used annually by the textile sector, making up 4% of total water use worldwide. By regenerating up to 95% of the water used in textile washing and finishing procedures and returning it in ideal condition for reuse, ANHIDRA tackles this pressing issue.
With zero discharges, zero contamination, and no complex treatments, ANHIDRA stands out with exceptional results:
- 92% reduction in water consumption
- 98% reduction in wastewater generation
- Up to 15% reduction in energy consumption
ANHIDRA not only minimizes environmental impact but also reduces the operational costs associated with traditional water management, making it a competitive and eco-friendly solution.
Innovation and circular economy
ANHIDRA prioritizes the reuse of textile waste in addition to water regeneration. The project is strengthening its commitment to the circular economy by investigating ways to turn fibrous particles gathered during water treatment into new textile products in partnership with AITEX.In addition to revolutionizing water management in the textile sector, ANHIDRA demonstrates that sustainability and competitiveness can coexist. Vicent Albert, Director of Product and Technology at Jeanologia, stated, “This system establishes a new global standard.”
Launch and demonstration of the ANHIDRA system
Attendees witnessed the system’s many phases in operation at the Pizarro pilot plant during the event. After the demonstration, project partners were able to share thoughts regarding the technology’s technical, environmental, and economic impacts during a coffee-networking session.”ANHIDRA signifies a significant change in how we handle environmental issues in a sector that uses a lot of resources, like the textile industry. It is a viable, effective, and necessary answer,” Pizarro CEO Manuel Pizarro underlined.
Scalability and future of the project
Over the following three years, the initiative intends to deploy ANHIDRA in a minimum of 36 industrial sites, with the goal of expanding to 100 systems globally in five years. It is anticipated that this will result in an annual water savings of up to 12.34 million m³.
LIFE ANHIDRA, which is supported by the European Union’s LIFE initiative, serves as an example of how technology innovation and commercial collaboration may effectively address significant environmental issues.Project organizer Vicent Albert said, “We want to make this technology available to the whole textile industry, helping to create a more sustainable future for fashion and the environment.”
