Gold C2C milestone among Saitex’s achievements
Vietnam-headquartered denim mill and manufacturer Saitex has published an impact report covering its achievements in 2023 and targets beyond.
Milestones achieved during the year include the fact that 25% of all fabrics produced by the Vietnamese facility are now Cradle to Cradle certified Gold denim, which means the fabrics are created with substantial reductions in CO2 emissions, energy usage and water consumption.
In 2021, it added Smart-Indigo technology, which, after two years of implementation, has reduced CO2 emissions by 90%, energy use by 70% and water consumption by 30%. All indigo is pre-reduced through electrolysis in an automated process, with the only byproduct being oxygen. The computerised system ensures a direct feed into the dye bath, maintaining high colour consistency, and the mill is only one of around 17 worldwide to operate this machine, it said.
Most of its cotton is from regenerative sources, but it admits tracking this is complex. “We are collaborating with farming communities, Regenagri and stakeholders like the Regenerative Agriculture Outcome Framework to establish accurate regenerative cotton data,” it said.
It said data for lifecycle assessments is lacking but it “remains committed, as accurate measurement is key to improvement”.
The mill also has a small farm at the Vietnamese mill, producing food for workers, with the aim of also selling some produce on a local market. Around 40% of the space in the mill is dedicated solely to a green area and 300 trees have been planted.
CEO Sanjeev Bahl said: “Sharing our impact, whether positive or negative, is essential for progress. Our evolution as a circular system depends on setting ambitious goals and continuously improving where we fall short.”
Saitex operates clothing manufacturing in Vietnam and a hub in Los Angeles. It operates recycling and upcycling divisions, and a spinning and weaving facility was added in Vietnam in 2022.
Clients include G-Star, Everlane, J.Crew, Madewell, Zara, IKEA and Polo Ralph Lauren.
