This guidance is for textile and clothing manufacturers. You may find this page useful if you carry out any of the following:
- manufacturing carpet
- preparing and spinning fibre
- finishing of natural fibres, synthetic fibres and blends
- knitting and crochet of fabrics and articles
- manufacturing, hats and caps, textile shoes (without soles), gloves, belts and hair nets
- manufacturing non-woven articles using heat, latex or mechanical processes
- manufacturing soft furnishings, curtains, cushions, household textiles, linen, quilts, valances and bedspreads
- manufacturing rope and cordage from yarns of natural fibres, such as cotton, jute and sisal, and man-made fibres, such as nylon and polypropylene
- preparing and treating untreated furskins, eg scraping, currying, tanning, bleaching, shearing and plucking and dyeing
- weaving broad fabrics, narrow fabrics, lace, outdoor textiles, and converting yarns into fabric.
Environmental impacts of textiles and clothing businesses
If you manufacture textiles and clothing, your business can have a number of impacts on the environment, for example:
- air emissions causing air pollution from the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inert gases from laser cutting and dust from finishing operations
- land contamination from the release of pesticides and other chemicals from poorly managed storage areas
- noise pollution from plant and machinery
- waste disposal of packaging, contaminated sawdust, fur trimmings and fleshings, and contaminated chemicals containers
- water discharges of water containing grease, dyes and pigments, pesticides, sugars, sodium chloride and sodium sulphate.
How can NetRegs help you?
Our guidance could help you to:
- avoid prosecution and receive fewer visits from environmental regulators
- increase efficiency and productivity
- reduce your operating costs
- be more likely to obtain business from government bodies and large businesses that require their business partners to manage their environmental impacts effectively
- improve your reputation amongst staff, customers and the public
- increase the chance of securing funding to expand your business by demonstrating that your environmental impacts are well managed.
Sign up to NetRegs email updates to keep up to date on new environmental regulations. Select your business type to receive updates tailored for you.
