Factory Environmental Inspection is the review of environmental protection and sustainable development factors, aimed at enhancing the company’s competitiveness in the “green” and “environmentally friendly” markets. The main inspections include GTW certification, BSCI factory inspection, GRS certification, RSC certification, FSC certification, and others.

Green To Wear (GTW)

Green To Wear is a sustainable development standard developed by the Inditex Group to integrate all environmental and product health requirements. The Green To Wear Factory Inspection is a factory operation sustainability certification system focused on evaluating environmental protection performance and social responsibility in the supply chain, including energy management, water resource management, waste management, chemical management, workers’ rights, and working conditions.

The purpose of GTW certification is to ensure that Inditex Group’s suppliers and wet processing factories (such as dyeing, printing, synthetic leather, laundry, and vegetable leather factories) meet environmental and product health standards. Through GTW factory inspection, businesses can demonstrate their efforts and achievements in sustainable development and collaborate with other certified companies to promote the development of the sustainable fashion industry.

GTW Environmental Assessment Requirements

1. Environment: Assess the project’s potential impact on the environment, including air, water, soil, biodiversity, ecosystems, etc.
2. Socio-economic: Assess the project’s impact on the local community, residents’ livelihoods, economic development, and cultural heritage, including job opportunities, income distribution, social capital, etc.
3. Sustainability of the Project: Including resource use, energy efficiency, waste management, social responsibility, and the achievement of sustainable development goals.
4. Environmental Risks: Assess the environmental risks that may arise from the project, including pollution, disasters, ecological destruction, climate change, and propose preventive measures and emergency response plans.
5. Environmental Management Plan: Includes environmental protection measures, environmental monitoring and evaluation, environmental training and communication, and environmental management systems.
6. Legal Compliance: Assess whether the project complies with national, local, and industry environmental legal requirements, including environmental impact assessments, land use, waste discharge, resource protection, etc.
7. Community Consultation and Participation: During the evaluation process, widely collect opinions and suggestions from stakeholders and the public, and fully consider these opinions in the evaluation report.

GTW Factory Inspection Rating

• Grade A: The factory effectively manages inputs and outputs, has the ability to increase productivity, is considered a leader in the industry, and has best practices to share with consumers.

• Grade B: Although there is still room for improvement, the overall environmental management system is good.

• Grade C: Due to the lack of sustainable management of resources and consequences, the factory is very likely to not be able to continue its business cooperation with Inditex.

• Grade D: The factory is not sustainable, due to significant negative environmental impacts, and cannot cooperate with Inditex and needs to make changes. Grade D factories have 6 months to rectify or build a well-managed wastewater treatment system. After that, if necessary, a new environmental inspection will be conducted.

Best Performance in GTW Sustainable Environmental Inspection

GTW inspection reports typically require at least a Grade B! Factories rated B (not C or D) need to add at least one of the following best practices each year:

Process Control:

1. Record the traceability of raw materials (pre-yarn, yarn, fabric, and finished products).
2. Install liquid level meters and temperature control devices on each vertical washing machine, and do not use horizontal washing machines.
3. Accurately record and manage a list of chemicals compliant with MRSL requirements.
4. Automate control on each dyeing or processing machine.
5. Annual average water consumption is less than 140L/kg of fabric.

Water Saving:

6. Do not use continuous flushing taps but use point flushing taps.

Wastewater Treatment:

7. External testing of the internal wastewater treatment system at least quarterly (third party or government agency), testing at least 4 items: COD, BOD, pH, and TSS. If the annual wastewater volume exceeds 700,000 cubic meters, the frequency of testing is monthly. If below this level, testing is quarterly.
8. MRSL substances in untreated wastewater are not detected (except for heavy metals and any detectable values caused by incoming water).

Solid Waste:

9. The factory has a list of hazardous waste and transfers all hazardous waste to certified agencies. Hazardous waste within the factory is properly managed (sorted, labeled, isolated, ventilated, and leak-proof).

Energy Consumption:

10. Monitor gas emissions from combustion processes as required by local laws.
11. Regularly monitor and inspect steam and water leaks.
12. All steam tanks and pipelines are insulated.
13. Dryers have automatic control devices (including moisture detection), and stenters have heat recovery systems.