This new stage follows their initial collaboration in 2023 and seeks to generate data-driven validation for monitoring fibre fragments.
Phase 2 will conduct wastewater testing in 15 textile manufacturing facilities worldwide. Researchers will focus on whether Total Suspended Solids (TSS), a standard wastewater measurement, can accurately indicate fibre fragment concentrations in industrial effluent.
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Although TSS already serves as a routine metric for suspended solids, it accounts for a broader range of materials than just fibre fragments.
The project will collect parallel TSS and Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) measurements from balancing tanks and final discharge points in manufacturing sites.
Dynamic Image Analysis directly counts fibre fragments and comparing it with TSS aims to determine if TSS can be used as a reliable, practical, and scalable monitoring tool in supply chains.
Participating sites will represent major textile production centres and include diverse material types such as polyester, cotton, and polyamide, along with key industry processes including denim manufacturing and laundry operations.
Sampling will take place at ZDHC Approved Wastewater Laboratories in different regions.
Hohenstein Laboratories in Germany will carry out both TSS and DIA testing. All collected data will be anonymised and jointly analysed by TMC and ZDHC, with results to be published in a technical report.
ZDHC sector partnership lead Maria Arroyo said: “This next phase is about validating the hypothesis at scale with a significant number of facilities representing a cross-section of the industry. If TSS can be robustly established as a proxy indicator for fibre fragments, the industry will have a scalable, globally accessible way to monitor and drive reductions in fibre emissions through existing wastewater systems.”
Upon completion of the validation phase, TMC and ZDHC plan to develop an action plan to support suppliers in achieving ZDHC Wastewater and Sludge Guidelines Aspirational Levels for TSS.
Planned actions include supplier training, guidance on wastewater treatment technologies, and integration of findings into ZDHC Academy learning modules.
Major brands such as Tesco, Primark, adidas, and lululemon are co-funding the project and have contributed to its development through technical input and oversight along with other task team members.
The Microfibre Consortium CEO Kelly Sheridan added: “We’ve outlined the actions that can be taken, now we’re creating the conditions for credible mitigation, at scale. Our collaboration with ZDHC shares a common ambition for scientific rigour and realistic solutions, for cost-effective application across the industry.”
