There are many companies out there who are doing their best to make environmentally conscious decisions. It’s not too hard to find companies who are creating eco-friendly products, but when it comes to jeans it is a little more difficult. One company in particular that is an innovator of eco-friendly processes for jeans is Tortoise Jeans. Tortoise is the forerunner of a water saving method called the Wiser Wash. According to the Tortoise website, the Wiser Wash process, “…is a multi-pronged, eco-friendly initiative concentrated on revolutionizing the most environmentally harmful, but essential, step in the process of making jeans – the wash” (www.tortoisejeans.com). Tortoise uses a variety of different technologies and practices to reduce the environmental footprint that comes from producing jeans.
The first process is called 3.0 Exposure, an application that replaces outdated methods of jean processing (which uses toxic and harmful chemicals) with new ozone technology. According to Tortoise, this results in less machine time, lower temperatures, less compound processes, and an 85% reduction in energy consumed then with traditional wash facilities. Another one of their processes is called Starfish, an alternative to the traditional stone wash, which has been known to be environmentally harmful. Starfish is a, “…locally sourced ingredient that can be used repeatedly, creating nearly zero waste. With the use of STARFISH, [they] are able to achieve exceptional color highs and lows to produce a wear that simulates an authentic look” (www.tortoisejeans.com). These processes are not only saving energy, but also ensuring that fewer chemicals are going into both our water and the creation of our jeans.
The most unique part of Tortoise Jeans is the way that they manage their water usage. Tortoise uses 80% less water compared to traditional methods by eliminating certain traditional processes. In addition to this, they have come up with a way to create Nue Water for future washes. Tortoise describes their regenerative H2O system as recycling the water used in jean production, creating Nue Water, which can then be used for washes in the future. By using this innovative and unique process no water is wasted!
If companies continue to make an effort to create their products in an environmentally friendly manner, there is hope that our world’s waters can be rehabilitated and shared for years to come.
Source: http://www.tortoisejeans.com/wiser-washes