The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Program (ZDHC) is a multi-stakeholder organization made up of more than 170 contributors from across the industry, including brands, suppliers, chemical suppliers and solution providers. ZDHC is committed to eliminating the use and emissions of hazardous chemicals in textile, apparel and footwear supply chain, thereby improving the environment and people’s livelihood.
In March 2022, ZDHC released the new Wastewater Guideline 2.0 (WWG 2.0), which was the second update since the Wastewater Guideline 1.0 was newly released in November 2016 and was first updated to 1.1 in July 2019. There are a string of significant changes in this update, mainly as follows:
- WWG 2.0 merges the previously separate textile and leather wastewater guidelines into one;
- WWG 2.0 details the latest methods of sampling and testing for different discharge types (Direct, Indirect and Zero-Liquid Discharge) and proposes a defined value of 15 m3 per day for wastewater flowrate, simplified operations;
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Suppliers with average daily wastewater discharge greater than 15m3 per day:
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Suppliers with average daily wastewater discharge lower than 15m3 per day:
- The detection parameters adopted the substances in the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) 2.0 version, add:
- Anti- Microbials & Biocides
- Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins
- Dimethylformamide
- Additional flame retardants
- UV Absorbers
- Volatile organic compounds (Xylene, Toluene)
- Miscellaneous [AEEA(2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol), Bisphenol A, Quinoline, Thiourea)]
- Update the sludge disposal pathways guidance and test parameters;
- Changes in test methods of conventional parameters;
- Some tests will be conducted on-site
- Test methods for Persistent Foam, Temperature difference and E. coli
- Added test parameters such as Total Chlorine, Chloride Anions, Sulfate and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- The Wastewater Candidate List has been added to provide the industry with future expectations;
- MRSL V2.0 candidate list (e.g. Aniline, all PFCs)
- Microfibers
- Water usage and sector-specific water use target
- Toxicity of wastewater
- “Smart, Intelligent testing” – related to facility performance and risk
- Define performance measurement criteria;
- Updated the scoring logic for ClearStream Report 2.0
- MRSL scoring logic: All substances meeting limit value are counted as 1 point each
- Scoring logic for Conventional /Anions/Heavy metals:
- Meeting Foundational limits – 1 point each
- Meeting Progressive limits – 2 points each
- Meeting Aspirational limits – 3 points each
Starting From 1 November 2022, sampling and testing will only be conducted in accordance with ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines 2.0.
PFI supports the ZDHC initiative and has since become a ZDHC accredited testing laboratory. For more information about the ZDHC program, please feel free to contact us!
