Circular economy: what it is and how we apply it

The apparel industry is in need for a change, as shown by figures: 98 million tons of non renewable resources used every year, 93 million cubic meters of water, 1.2 billion tons of CO2 released in the atmosphere and 500 thousand tons of micro-plastic fibers which end up in our oceans.

Adopting a circular economy model is the only solution left to save the textile industry, although we are talking about a systemic change which takes time, commitment and the willingness to be implemented.  But what is circular economy?

A circular economy, first of all, is designed to preserve the environment through a significant decrease in greenhouse gases emissions, in the waste of water and primary resources, in the leak of pollutants and the corresponding increase of soil productivity.

Linear and circular economy: the main differences

Until a few years ago,  the so-called linear economy model applied: production, consumption and disposal, all products were doomed.  The current transition towards a circular economy has drawn the public attention to the new concepts of  reuse and recycling of already existing products and materials.

The biggest difference between linear and circular economy models lies in the fact that what was once waste is not turned into a resource. Thus, the products life cycle is extended and waste are reduced.

The linear economy model, which relies only on the exploitation of resources, is no longer applicable. Luckily there are companies, like  Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, which have already started adopting a new model consequently allowing Italy among the European leaders in terms of the circular economy development index.

Circular economy and the textile industry: Carvico’s commitment 

Circular economy and sustainable development are inseparable concepts for companies like Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, which are international textile market leaders. Green Company, this is the name they have given to their concrete commitment towards nature: safeguarding our environment is no longer a choice but a must for socially aware and committed.

Circular economy applies to the textile industry through 4 fundamental processes:

• Optimization of the production processes through the implementation of cutting-edge technologies aimed at monitoring, reducing, cutting down on waste and polluting agents, and certifying by means of clear data the environmental results achieved;
• Showing a concrete interest in researching new eco-sustainable raw materials including recycled yarns and fibers;
• creating eco-sustainable fabrics with the view to promote a fashion industry which may be more respectful of mother nature’s rights;
• supporting International projects aimed at safeguarding our environment.

After several years and countless analysis, modifications and updates, Carvico and Jersey Lomellina production plants are now a virtuous example of successful and smart green  entrepreneurship providing an excellent and precious contribution to the implementation of a  circular economy model in the fashion industry. Every day we perform several concrete actions in our companies:

• optimization of the use of water and chemical agents;
• use of self-produced power deriving solely from renewable sources;
• recovery of the thermal Energy coming from our production plants;
• reduction of waste.

Circular economy and textile industry: let’s find out  more about Carvico and Jersey Lomellina supply chain and green vision, with a focus on their water cycle, co-generation plant for the production of energy and heat recovery system.

Water cycle and circular economy 

83% of the water used in Carvico and Jersey Lomellina production processes is recovered and reused.

According to our water cycle incoming water from our boreholes is used four times in our production cycles and then collected in a homogenisation plant which treats it sustainably through a chemical, physical and biological equalization process before feeding it to the municipal water treatment plant.

This way, Carvico and Jersey Lomellina can ensure 587.897 m³ of water are recovered and reused every year, the same quantity used by 9160 people

Self-production of Energy 

Carvico and Jersey Lomellina  production cycles only make use of  energy coming from renewable resources. Moreover, improvements carried out onto knitting plants have led to a further decrease of energy consumption  up to 2.579.972 kwh saved since 2012, the same quantity used per capita by 3811 people in one year.

Thanks to the installation of an innovative cogeneration plant, Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, already in 2013, managed to achieve an important result: self.-producing power through the use of methane gas, the cleanest of all fossil fuels.

Among the virtuous figures referring to 2020, we can also add 8.500.000 KW/h of self-produced energy in one year, the amount of energy needed to lit up 12 Eiffel Towers!

In order to make a virtuous use of the heat produced during the production of our fabrics, thermal energy, generated by our production plants is reused to heat up some corporate facilities thus saving 907.245 Sm3 of methane gas in 2021.

Cirucular economy: Carvico and Jersey Lomellina figures

Carvico and Jersey Lomellina apply a circular economy model oriented to sustainability, thanks to daily and successful efforts. Figures are clear:

• emissions to the atmosphere which are 10 times lower than the limits set by the law;
• 44,7% less CO² released into the atmosphere for every kg of fabric produced compare to 2002;
• 792.000 kg of CO² NOT released into the atmosphere, that is to say what a Fiat 500 would have released while driving 508 times around the Earth ;
• 99% of waste produced is recycled and reused in our recovery plants, preventing over 160 trucks full of waste from going to the landfill.

This is how, through many concrete and consistent actions, Carvico and Jersey Lomellina are proud to take on their Green Responsibility: we are all responsible and we are all part of it. If we cannot turn back time, we can still  work now to save our future. Now is the time for action.

Play your part by choosing only the best fabrics. Select Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, two companies headquartered in the district of Bergamo, which, since their early days, have strongly believed and have committed to building  high-tech production plants with a low environmental impact, thus developing increasingly sustainable production models.

Contact us.