Tintex was already part of Supplier to Zero and holds other sustainability certifications, such as STeP by Oeko-Tex, whose requirements align with the criteria defined by Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), which facilitated the process of progressing to this level.
According to Débora Alheira, sustainability technician at the Vila Nova de Cerveira-based company, «the main challenges were related to internal organisation, namely formalising procedures and strengthening document control».
Despite this, achieving Level 2 did not require significant changes to production processes, «since the practices required for this level had already been implemented and continuously improved, in line with the latest ZDHC guidelines», notes Cristina Rodrigues, sustainability technician, adding that «achieving this Level 2 was facilitated by the fact that we are STeP by Oeko-Tex certified, reducing the administrative burden and also avoiding duplicate checks».
The progress made above all made it possible to «validate, structure and give visibility to practices already implemented, enabling customers and partners to transparently recognise our commitment to responsible chemical management», summarises Cristina Rodrigues.
Managing chemicals from selection to disposal
Chemical management at Tintex begins at the substance selection stage, through a product passport system that ensures formulations comply with applicable requirements. During the production process, the company has implemented an environmental and chemical management system that makes it possible to monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement and ensure practices aligned with ZDHC principles. Monitoring also extends to wastewater treatment through water performance reports.
Around nine months after achieving Level 2, it is not yet possible to objectively quantify the impacts, but Débora Alheira believes that «it represents a significant step forward in chemical management safety, ensuring compliance with the most stringent restricted substances lists», stressing that «rather than delivering immediate results in numbers, it consolidates a preventive system that reduces environmental and operational risks and anticipates legal and market requirements».
From a strategic perspective, the certification is seen as strengthening the company’s ability to respond to market requirements. For Rita Figueiredo, marketing and communications manager, «this step enables Tintex to be prepared to respond to the growing expectations of fashion brands regarding sustainability, traceability and compliance», while also helping to strengthen the company’s competitiveness.
Tintex communicated the new certification level – achieved in March last year – to interested customers and announced it through its digital channels. «Some customers and brands that recognise the value of the ZDHC Supplier to Zero certification were positively surprised that we had already achieved Level 2, given the associated technical and operational requirements, especially in a dyehouse that uses more than 300 chemicals», reveals Débora Alheira, who stresses that «this recognition strengthens customers’ confidence in our practices and in our alignment with the sustainability requirements demanded by brands».
