Ellen MacArthur Foundation praises Tunisian jeans maker
Campaign group Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, has published a paper on the development of circular economy initiatives in Africa. One of the case studies in the paper highlights the achievements of Demco, a jeans manufacturer based in Tunisia.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Demco has “a strong sustainability policy roadmap” and is driven by the belief that environmental waste equals financial waste.
More than 50% of the water used in its factories is recycled and reused in production. More than 30% of the energy the factories consume comes from solar panels, and all process waste is sorted and sold to certified recycling partners.
Demco has plans to expand, the paper said. It will collect unsold garments from across Tunisia and import unsold garments from outside the country. Its intention is to recycle these garments in Tunisia to meet growing demand for recycled fabric.
