By: Johnny De Meirsman, DEMCO group – Monastir, Tunisia
Sound environmental management practices at DEMCO result from a strong and two-decades-long commitment of the top management.
In 2019, a new momentum has been initiated with the creation of the DEMCO eco team who’s mission was the co-design of a complete environmental strategy 2019-2025 and its implementation and monitoring.
Climate neutrality, efficiency use of natural resources and waste recycling are embedded principles to this strategy.
More concretely, 17 specific goals turned into 25 innovative and cost-effective actions will reinforce DEMCO practices to achieve a high level of environmental protection.
Among these actions, we pinpoint our latest innovations:
2 NEW BUSINESS MODELS “CIRCULAR ECONOMY”
An Upcycling project which is DEMCO unique and innovative program to reuse and upgrade DEMCO own waste and customer garment waste.
The recycling of DEMCO fabric waste into new fabrics in partnership with a Tunisian spinning factory. The new fabric containing recycled yarn will be used by DEMCO.
INDUSTRY 4.0
A fully automated chemical “kitchen” that weighs and distributes the needed chemical mix.
Centralised and digital management of all dyeing and washing machines.
JEANS REDESIGN
Selling of jeans based upon the Jeans Redesign guidelines from November 2020.
As the group already uses Higg index to measure its environmental performance, the use of this tool will be extended to other companies of the Group. It will guide our teams to demonstrating a high level of performance
Latest DEMCO development: upgrading of its wastewater treatment unit!
End of 2019, DEMCO successfully implemented a reverse osmosis system to purify 1,200 m3/day of process wastewater. This high performing technology delivers pure water that can be reused into the plant. 100% of its wastewater is now treated of which 80% is recycled into the process.
Thanks to the recycling of its wastewater, DEMCO consumes less than 7 litres/jeans against 100 litres/jeans 10 years ago.
A major achievement for its Water Stewardship programme.
DEMCO WANTS TO OFFSET ITS CO2 EMISSIONS IN TUNISIA: THE FIRST STEP!
1,200 m3 / day of industrial wastewater from washing and dyeing stations treated
The cornerstone of its environmental strategy, DEMCO offsets its CO2eq emissions since 2017 through the acquisition of carbon credits generated by renewable energy projects in Africa.
Last year, DEMCO decided to offset its CO2 emissions in Tunisia and to implement its own carbon offset program: a plantation of paulownia, a fast-growing tree presenting a high carbon absorption potential.
The first step of this program has been made on a 2 ha plot of land located in the Center of Tunisia, in the Governorate of Monastir: 800 young paulownia seedlings have been planted mid-June.
More than 500 ha will be planted in Tunisia in the coming years. Stay tuned!
