Gabriel_Annual_Report_2024-25 - Flipbook - Page 61
CONTENTS // SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT // WATER
Activities related to water
Gabriel has implemented systems and activities that
reduce water consumption, protect local water resources
and prevent pollution from wastewater.
Management systems
Since achieving ISO 14001 environmental certification
in 1996, Gabriel has documented water consumption
and worked to reduce water-related impacts in its own
operations, and subsequently the part-owned Scandye
dyeworks, to avoid pollution during dyeing processes.
Gabriel and its key dyeing suppliers are certified for
environmental management under ISO 14001 and for
quality management under ISO 9001. These certifications
require process management and handling of impacts,
risks and improvement opportunities.
Suppliers are governed by Gabriel’s Supplier Code of
Conduct, which contains specific requirements for responsible handling of wet textile processes, including
water saving, treatment and recycling of process water
and measurement of impacts on local water resources.
Gabriel’s supplier approval process involves audits of
the supplier’s water management, including checking
that adequate wastewater treatment is in place. It is a
requirement that Gabriel’s dyeworks suppliers monitor
their water consumption and that water use is always
coordinated with local authorities.
Gabriel sets stringent requirements for the use of dyes
and chemicals in product development and for wastewater treatment in fabric production in the global standard collection. The requirements are included in Gabriel
General Requirements, which contain general requirements for chemical use. Gabriel achieved EU Ecolabel
certification on a furniture fabric in 2003 and was the
first undertaking in the industry to do so. The EU Ecolabel is the European Union’s official ecolabel and the only
EU-wide ISO 14024 Type I ecolabelling scheme. The criteria of the EU Ecolabel for fabrics are based on life cycle
assessments of the textile industry’s main environmental
impacts, including water and chemical use. This means
that harmful substances, including certain dyes, heavy
metals and formaldehyde, are subject to restrictions. In
addition, wastewater from production must be treated
effectively to observe limit values for biodegradability
and toxicity. Today, Gabriel’s global standard collection
is produced, using primarily dyes and chemicals that
meet the requirements of the EU Ecolabel. The share
of designs carrying the EU Ecolabel documents reflects
this (see also p. 54).
Reduction of water consumption
Having previously run a dyeworks in Aalborg and now as
co-owner of Scandye, Gabriel places emphasis on water
as a resource in the production of fabrics and over the
years has reduced water consumption per kg of fabric
produced, which can be documented back to 1996.
In 2024/25, Gabriel increased this effort by screening
and mapping key activities in the supply chain in areas
facing water-related risks, focusing on water stress and
using the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas tool from the World
Resources Institute (WRI). The analysis takes account of
geographical risks and optimistic, pessimistic and business-as-usual scenarios for 2030 and 2050. The outcome
confirms that the part-owned Scandye dyeworks in
Lithuania is not located in an area facing high water
stress, but as Scandye produces the largest amount of
fabrics, a collective effort is made to explore possibilities
of reducing water consumption.
Gabriel is engaging in dialogue on water management
with other significant suppliers, with a focus on the areas
which the risk assessment identifies as being or becoming high water stress areas. The suppliers must establish
policies, monitoring structures and technological solutions
supporting responsible water handling. These include
monitoring of consumption and discharge, investments
in water-saving equipment and recycling of water.
Targets
Gabriel continues to see possibilities of strengthening its collaboration with the key dyeworks on reduction of water
consumption in the value chain. To reduce these risks and pursue the improvement opportunities, Gabriel has set
targets to be achieved by 2029/30. The targets were set by Gabriel inhouse based on its strategic action areas and
approved by the CEO.
Activity
Description
Scope
Target for 2029/30
Reduction
of water
consumption
The aim is to realise the
development targets
for water reduction by
implementing solutions
in Gabriel’s part-owned
Scandye dyeworks, in
collaboration with that
company’s management.
Dyeworks
in the value
chain
25% reduction of
water consumption
per kg of fabric
produced at
Scandye from
base year 2024/25,
from 115 to 86 litres
per kg produced.
The experience gained
will be disseminated to
Gabriel’s supply chains.
Action plans for reducing
water consumption will
be made for other key
suppliers.
Status for 2024/25
(base year)
Tracking method
and effectiveness
Scandye uses 115
litres of water per
kg produced.
Scandye’s water consumption per kg is reported
monthly and activities are
followed up each quarter.
All key suppliers
have notified their
water consumption
and actions.
Data from suppliers are
validated annually and
deviations followed up in
action plans. The effect of
actions is assessed based
on reported data.
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