Bringing Denim Sustainability Closer to Home

Sourcing Journal Radio

The 132-year-old Cone Denim, the oldest denim manufacturer based in the United States, knows a thing or two about denim but is hardly resting on its laurels. With vertical mills in Mexico and China, Cone Denim has recently invested about $14 million on more sustainable production initiatives, notably including creating a certified supply chain pipeline for recycled cotton in Mexico, water mitigation systems and even solar rooftop panels.

“We're constantly looking for new technologies and new ways to up our game and remain sustainable,” said Cone Denim president Steve Maggard in a fireside chat with Sourcing Journal business reporter Matt Hickman, citing a new zero liquid discharge water treatment facility, a co-generation facility that reduces cost to produce hot water and steam by using the heat generated during electricity production, as well as a new fiber blending production line to create sustainable offerings with materials like hemp, Tencel, recycled cotton and organic cotton.

Watch the fireside chat to learn:

· How Cone Denim’s vertical mills in Mexico and China have been upgraded for better sustainability

· How nearshoring benefits denim brands for closer-to-market trend shifts, sustainability and capital flow

· How Cone Denim is meeting the increased demand for recycled content in both its Mexico and China mills with up to 20 to 100% recycled fiber content

· Why Cone has invested in RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) certification and third-party certification with Oritain and why this is so critical today

· How Cone Denim’s new Zero Liquid Discharge water treatment facility is a cornerstone of the company’s water conservation efforts

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