Mario Tarantini

Life Cycle Assessment as a tool for water management optimization in textile finishing industry

In several countries, due to the increasing cost and shortage of water, textile finishing industries are looking for non conventional water resources. The use of reclaimed wastewater appears a technically feasible solution and is gaining a growing consensus. A European Union research project (TOWEF0, Towards effluent zero) with the aim of elaborating a multicriteria integrated and coherent methodology to support the implementation of sustainable water reuse in textile finishing processes has been recently concluded. In order to achieve an optimal compromise between minimization of environmental impacts of the production processes and maximum recovery of resources, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology has been applied to selected textile products manufactured within Belgian and Italian textile finishing companies. The study identified the key environmental issues within the finishing processes of a variety of natural (cotton, silk) and man-made (polyester, acetate, viscose) fibers and fabrics and analyzed alternative water reuse scenarios. Significant margins exist for impressive reductions in water consumption with almost no additional environmental impact adopting in situ membrane filtration technology. In this paper the methodological approach and the results of the LCA analyses applied to a flax-polyester product are presented and discussed.

The Mediterranean Eco-Industrial Development Model

Industrial areas are a fundamental element of territorial development, since they can promote growth, jobs and entrepreneurship. Nevertheless the excessive exploitation of raw materials, the use of non-renewable energy resources, the emission of pollutants and waste production have up to now represented a weakness in the present production model. In this context Mediterranean Eco-Industrial Development (MEID) project, funded by the European program MED, aims to define a joint model to plan, build and manage sustainable Industrial Areas in the Mediterranean region, improving sustainable development and SMEs competitiveness. The model intends to enhance capacities and develop decision tools for Competent Authorities and Industrial Area Managers to integrate environmental friendly solutions into the Regional and Interregional Industrial Development Strategies. An incremental approach has been adopted to ensure the model applicability to new industrial areas, as well as already operating non structured and structured areas. Fundamental parts of the management model are high level infrastructures and innovative services to support SMEs to create networks, exploit the eco-innovation opportunities and face the challenges of the Green economy.