The ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V2.0 is an update to the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V1.0, with the primary objective of including the new substances listed in the ZDHC MRSL V2.0 in the WWG V2.0. Additionally, the textile and leather guidelines have been now combined into a single document. There are other differences such as the inclusion of a Candidate List (to give advance information to the industry on what to expect in future updates), a streamlined approach to sampling and testing for different types of discharge, the establishment of a threshold discharge volume of 15m3 per day and changes or additions in certain conventional parameters and testing methods.
For all stakeholders there is a transition period between the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V1.0 and the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V2.0. Version 2.0 was published on 1 March 2022, with a transition period from 1 April 2022 (start of review process of lab approval) and will end on 30 November 2022. During this transition period, the wastewater testing will take place according to the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V1.1. For the April 2023 cycle onwards, testing will be done only as per the Version 2.0.
he ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V2.0 will only be applicablefrom the testing cycle of April 2023. This means that for the testing cycles of April and October 2022, the wastewater testing will be done as per the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V1.1 only.
The ZDHC WWG 1.1 and 2,0 mandate testing twice a year of the WW at a Supplier facility - before 30th April and before 31st October every year. There should be at least a 3 -month gap between the two testing cycles. The WW test reports for the two cycles must be uploaded in the Supplier’s account in the ZDHC Gateway by the ZDHC approved WW test laboratory doing the sampling and testing. In case there are any non-conformities to the ZDHC WWG, the Supplier must do a Root Cause Analysis to identify the cause, take corrective action and upload a Corrective Action Plan in his Gateway account. Brands in the Gateway to whom the Supplier is connected can then access this Corrective Action Plan. So, the intention of these testing cycles is to monitor the output chemical management at a manufacturing facility and take corrective actions in case any non-conformities are detected so that we move towards our goal of zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.
A supplier can decide to do the WW testing anytime between Nov - Mar and Apr- Oct. The uploading of the WW test report in the ZDHC Gateway should be completed before 30th April and 31st October in a calendar year. There should at least be a 3- month gap between the two testing cycles.
Metallic trim parts are currently out of scope of the ZDHC MRSL. They will be part of the scope in future. However total heavy metal impurities from chemical and colorant formulations are included in the ZDHC MRSL.
The ClearStream Report is a summary of the test results as per the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines. The minimum requirements in the ZDHC WWG are that the local legal requirements must be met by the Supplier. The ClearStream Report give an indication of non-conformities to the conventional and MRSL parameters listed in the ZDHC WWG so that the Supplier can conduct a Root Cause Analysis in terms of input chemical management and/or wastewater treatment plant efficiency and take corrective actions so that these non-conformities are not repeated