Wastewater Treatment

Gildan has taken a leadership role in adopting sustainable environmental practices in the textile and apparel manufacturing industry. Among its environmentally friendly initiatives, the company has created a highly efficient, biological wastewater treatment system (biotop).

This biotop is currently in use at textile facilities in Honduras and in the Dominican Republic.

The wastewater flows from the plant through a series of lagoons where pH is naturally stabilized, using bacteria to ensure chemical degradation and the removal of particles. The treated water is then released into a drainage channel that flows into the nearest river.

This environmentally friendly process has the following advantages:

• No chemicals are used to reduce the chemical oxygen demand levels and the colour.
• The water treated by this natural system, and available for surrounding communities is suitable for agriculture.
• No harm is done to the aquatic life in the receiving river and its ecosystem.
• Several species of birds and fish have been spotted in these lagoons of fresh water.
• Our water treatment system helps farming communities that use the water to irrigate crops.