Gap Inc. has announced a new alliance with Arvind, its long-time sourcing and franchise partner in India, to drive industry-leading solutions that address global water scarcity. The two companies will open a new innovation center to promote the adoption of proven techniques and technology that reduce water use by the textile industry.
Further, both are also investing in a new water treatment facility that will eliminate the use of fresh water at Arvind’s denim mill in Ahmedabad. The facility will save three billion litres of fresh water by the end of 2020 and preserve the local community’s vital freshwater resources.
When it opens in 2020, the new center will be an innovation hub for apparel companies, manufacturing suppliers and vendors, sustainability experts, academics and other environmental stakeholders to advance and scale water stewardship across the apparel sector. The 18,000-square foot space will feature installations that showcase water management best practices and recycling technologies, a library, lab space to develop water management solutions as well as classroom training, and conference space. Once completed, the center will generate scalable solutions that can be replicated at other mills and laundries.
