Responsibility Brochure - Flipbook - Page 24
Water discharge
The effluent generated by the dyeworks at Sudbury Silk Mills is pre-treated to remove all organic matter,
through oxidation rather than filtration, so there is also no waste or slurry.
Our improvement plan for 2024 includes looking at options for improved heat and water recovery in a
closed loop system as well as working with academic partners to explore innovative dyes and techniques.
Our key focus for 2024 is improving RFT in the dyeworks, which includes reviewing the recipe and batch
database and ensuring recipe modifications are routinely updated.
Our wastewater is tested annually by Anglian Water and by an independent laboratory to the strict
OEKO-TEX® STeP standard. The effluent generated by the dyeworks at Sudbury Silk Mills is treated to
remove all organic matter through oxidation, rather than filtration, so there is also no waste or slurry .
High tech solutions for dyeworks sustainability
Our dye works uses state-of-the-art technology that oxidises 100% of the organic dyestuffs in
the used dye liquor. This breaks them down into safe components that can be discharged
through local sewer works to be further processed by local authorities.
There is no resultant slurry to dispose of and no reduction of efficiency as filters become
clogged towards their end of life. The clear water is then ideally suited to be reprocessed and
recycled via the municipal wastewater system.
The heat from the dye liquor is recovered in a heat exchanger to preheat water for
subsequent dyeing9s, which in turn cools the waste liquor to the temperature required for
treatment.
Ultra-efficient pressurised cone-dyeing reduces the amount of water and dyestuffs required
in the dyeing process.
Sudbury Silk Mills has pioneered the use of this technology within the textile industry, and we
are always looking to make sure that we are on top of new developments and solutions to
improve sustainability.
Water saving measures
Our finishing machinery is bespoke-designed and custom-built to be low-or-no water usage. Instead, the
system we have developed uses energy-efficient methods to generate heat and steam if required, which
can be precisely controlled when delivered to the fabric, to achieve the desired effect. As no chemicals or
sizing agents are added in our production process, the fabrics require no washing or scouring, therefore
minimising the amount of water required and generating no effluent or wastewater from our finishing
processes.
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