The Standard Implementation Approach Guidelines document was created to facilitate not only the adoption of the ZDHC MMCF Guidelines and its three chapters, but also its actual implementation. The document describes what actions the different stakeholders (Brands/Retailers, Suppliers, and ZDHC Provisionally accepted Wastewater testing Laboratories) should take for the successful implementation of the total Guidelines.
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.
The ZDHC MMCF Guidelines are a set of guidelines that address the integrated expectations for discharge wastewater quality, emissions to air, and chemical recovery for manufacturing facilities producing Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres. The respective guidelines are:
- The ZDHC MMCF Responsible Fibre Production Guidelines
- The ZDHC MMCF Interim Wastewater Guidelines
- The ZDHC MMCF Interim Air Emissions Guidelines
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.