The current Covid-19 crisis has brought into the spotlight words like “sustainability”, “environmental harm”, “safety in the workplace” and “innovation”. Nothing new in the Apparel Industry, and in particular in the manufacturing of denim, where the debate around such notions has started decades ago.
FKgroup has made these concepts the core of its policy and vision: in recent years, the company has undergone a complete shift in practices and production process for sustainable denim.
2 keystones led this change:
- low environmental impact;
- high human health safety.
The first keystone drove the company to redesign its machines, increasing their speed, with a consistent reduction in electricity consumption and CO2 emission. The Super Jeans Eco-Power, born 4 years ago, is the line that has technology able to reduce the electricity consumption in both the spreader (3,5 kW) and the cutting machine (6,5 kW). With such line, FKgroup guarantees the manufacturing of 1000 pieces per hour, using 10 kW in total, equal to 5 grams of CO2 emissions per jeans, against an average of 15 grams of CO2 emissions. Such performances were certified in 2018, when the group received a TUV MEP energy protocol certification, obtaining an A+ GOLD.
The second keystone lays in the increase of the safety and well-being in the workplace. Denim production poses significant health risks to workers, as the denim emanates fine particles that can lodge themselves in people’s lungs. FKgroup has installed, in all the machines, a filter that blocks the particles to pour into the air (ISO 5011- certified).
According to Sergio Gori, CEO of the Group, innovation, safety and environmental values will further drive the investments in the future. Manufacturing 1 pair of jeans with only 4 grams of CO2 emission seems beyond the corner.
