What is the purpose and where can I find the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.1?
The ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.1 delivers unified requirements for discharged wastewater quality, air emissions, and chemical recovery for manufacturing facilities producing man-made cellulosic fibres.
The complete set includes:
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ZDHC MMCF Responsible Fibre Production Guidelines V2.1
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ZDHC MMCF Wastewater Guidelines V2.1
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MMCF Air Emissions Guidelines V2.1
The current version of the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V.2.1 Published in February 2023, can be found here https://downloads.roadmaptozero.com/fibres/mmcf-guidelines
With this set of documents, ZDHC appeals to its Committed Community and the entire MMCF industry to improve the quality of discharged industrial wastewater and production-related air emissions. ZDHC expects also to support the transition of the production of MMCF towards a circular approach by proposing recovery rates for substances such as sulphur, sodium sulphate, N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO), ammonia, copper and acetone.
Are the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines only applicable to MMCF manufacturers?
Yes, ZDHC MMCF Guideline V2.1 applies to MMCF manufacturers only.
Why are MMCF treated differently within the ZDHC approach?
Sustainable chemicals management of fibre production processes requires an approach beyond simply restricting the chemicals used with an MRSL. We can achieve the most impact by collaboratively setting guidance around good sustainable chemicals management and setting limits for wastewater, sludge, and air emissions during fibre production. ZDHC will continue to promote researching MMCF production processes using less hazardous chemicals.
Why has ZDHC included Man Made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCF) in its program?
Fibres are an important part of the value chain. Therefore it’s a logical next step for ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme to include fibre production processes and their raw materials. MMCFs are produced from cellulose sources using hazardous chemicals. Within the production process of viscose and modal, particularly where that’s not an integrated (closed loop) process, chemicals react with the cellulose. This creates by-products, which can be released into the air, water and soil.
What is the scope of the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.1
MMCF Guidelines V2.1 covers outputs proceeding with the dissolving of the pulp to fibre and filament production of MMCF fibres:
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Viscose staple fibres (VSF)
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Modal staple fibres
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Viscose filament yarn (VFY)
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Lyocell
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Cuprammonium rayon (cupro)
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Cellulose acetate (acetate)
This document doesn't cover the environmental impact of dissolved pulp processing.
What are the changes from the ZDHC MMCF Guideline V1.0 to the ZDHC MMCF Guideline V2.1?
The scope of the guidelines has been expanded from viscose staple fibre and modal staple fibre to include other MMCF varieties such as viscose filament yarn, Lyocell, cuprammonium rayon or cupro and cellulose acetate or acetate fibres.
Since the production process and chemicals used in MMCF are different, it is important to set appropriate standards for each type. So Under MMCF Guideline V2.1 different limits values for chemical recovery, wastewater emission and air emissions are set with respect to different MMCF fibre.
Why are wastewater parameters as load-based values mentioned separately in addition to concentration-based wastewater parameters?
To understand the environmental impact and efficiency of water usage in the production of man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF), it is necessary to measure some important wastewater parameters in terms of load-based values1 rather than only concentration-based values2. For this, the pollutant concentration needs to be linked with the wastewater flow rate in the fibre or filament manufacturing process.
In the MMCF guidelines 2.1, Table 1- Wastewater parameters to be assessed in load per tonne of fibre or filament (pg no. 28-29) outlines the norms to be achieved for COD, BOD and Zn parameters in terms of load per tonne of fibre production at Foundational, Progressive and Aspirational levels for the different MMCF types.
The load per tonne is calculated by simply multiplying the concentration in mg per litre with the water flow rate in cubic metres per day.
Note: The month of determining the water flow rate should be the same as the month in which the wastewater testing has been done and the pollutant concentration has been measured
1Load-based values: Gramme per tonne of fibre produced
2Concentration-based values: mg per litre of discharged wastewater
Why are modal staple fibres included in the scope of MMCF V2.1 but not listed in Table 1. Conventional Parameters Limit Values and Test Methods?
Table 1 for modal staple fibre production is only applicable for sites with a mixed production of viscose and modal fibres. It does not apply to facilities with the production of modal without viscose production. Therefore the same parameters and limits for viscose staple fibre (VSF) are applicable to modal+ viscose staple fibre production facilities.
What is MMCF Module and what are the key benefits of completing it?
The MMCF Module is a self-assessment questionnaire based on the principles of the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.1. By answering these questions, facilities demonstrate their awareness of good chemical management in achieving the limits for chemical recovery, wastewater and air emissions during MMCF fibre production.
The MMCF Module is based on:
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ZDHC Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) Guidelines V2.1
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ZDHC MMCF Guidelines Industry Standard Implementation Approach V2.1
The Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre (MMCF) Module on the ZDHC Supplier Platform supports MMCF manufacturers. The module addresses the use and discharge of hazardous chemicals in the MMCF production process, focussing on chemical recovery, wastewater discharge and air emissions. The self-evaluation-based solution supports MMCF manufacturers implementing the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines V2.1, published in February 2023. Manufacturers can demonstrate meeting the unified criteria for measuring output indicators like wastewater, sludge, air emissions and other process-related parameters.
What are the key components of the MMCF Module Assessment?
The MMCF Module assesses MMCF manufacturers on the following topics:
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Best practices for fibre feedstock
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Responsible production of MMCF
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Best practices for raw material consumption
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Environmental impact: Wastewater parameters
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MMCF Wastewater Guidelines
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MMCF Air Emissions Guidelines
What is the MMCF Module assessment & certification process?
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Every MMCF manufacturer with access to the ZDHC Gateway can access the Supplier Platform for free. To access the MMCF Module, MMCF manufacturers must be invited by ZDHC. Please contact SupplierPlatform@ZDHC.org. Access to the module, the questions, and the content are free of charge. The certification process fee is €499 per review.
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Once the MMCF facility decides to go for the review with certification, they have to complete the assessment, upload all the required documents and have to pay a processing fee of €499 per review.
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After completing the review, the third-party reviewer will review the answers and documents submitted by the MMCF facility. Based on the third-party assessment, the MMCF facility will receive an assessment report indicating their implementation level achievements; Foundational, Progressive or Aspirational (Signatory Suppliers) Supplier to Zero Level 1/2/3 (non-signatory suppliers).
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If a facility does not meet the requirements, it can develop an improvement plan and complete a reassessment.
Who can use the MMCF Module?
Every MMCF manufacturer with access to the ZDHC Gateway can access the Supplier Platform for free. To access the MMCF Module, MMCF manufacturers must be invited by ZDHC. Please contact SupplierPlatform@ZDHC.org to get access to the MMCF Module.
Please visit the ZDHC Knowledge Base to learn more about the requirements of the MMCF Module, and learn more about required file uploads and certification.
How to Access the MMCF Module
The MMCF Module can be accessed on the ZDHC Supplier Platform. ZDHC Supplier Platform