INTRODUCTION

One of the problems often encountered with rural industrialisation is its negative environmental impact in ecologically vulnerable environments A selection criterium to select appropriate target industries should therefore include an assessment of these effects The garment industry has a relatively low environmental impact, compared to other textiles subsectors (e.g. dyeing) or other sectors (e.g. chemical industry)

INTRODUCTION
Maintenance and maintenance performance both are influenced by environmental factors Wear & lubrication are one of the primary concerns of the maintenance department. They depend upon load, speed & working temperature. The working environment also affects the type of maintenance practice to be adopted.

ECO-MARK
The government and legislatures are using their influence to reduce environmental and health hazards due to industrialization and to stimulate the development of clean(er) technologies. It is amply clear that regulatory actions by pollution control agencies alone can not restore the environment to its pristine state. Pro-active and promotional roles should also be geared up in harmony with the overall environmental protection strategy. Consumers should take the lead in prompting manufacturers to adopt clean and eco-friendly technologies and environmentally-safe disposal of used products, along with preventive and mitigative approaches.

ECO-MARK
To increase consumer awareness, the Government of India launched the eco-labelling scheme known as `Ecomark' in 1991 for easy identification of environment-friendly products Any product which is made, used or disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the harm it would otherwise cause the environment, could be considered as Environment-Friendly Product.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME

The specific objectives of the scheme are as follow : To provide an incentive for manufacturers and importers to reduce adverse environmental impact of products. To reward genuine initiatives by companies to reduce adverse environmental impact of their products. To assist consumers to become environmentally responsible in their daily lives by providing information to take account of environmental factors in their purchase decisions. To encourage citizens to purchase products which have less harmful environmental impacts. Ultimately to improve the quality of the environment and to encourage the sustainable management of resources.

WESTPOINT STEVENS
CASE STUDY

BACKGROUND
Alamac Knits is the Apparel Fabric Division of Westpoint Stevens. Its Lumberton, North Carolina, facility employs about 1,000 people, and 1994 production totalled 38,255,000 pounds of knit fabrics for the clothing market. The knit fabrics production process involves knitting, dyeing, and finishing operations.

WASTE REDUCTION
In accordance with the companys proactive environmental policy, Westpoint Stevens implemented a range of programs at the Lumberton facility. The company was classed as a major emissions source under Title V of the Clean Air Act.
To reduce the regulatory burden associated with this classification, the company contacted chemical vendors to obtain alternate chemicals that emit fewer hazardous air pollutants. These negotiations reduced the quantity of the finishing chemicals emitted from the plant. Emissions were further reduced when fuel oil was replaced with cleaner natural gas as boiler fuel.

WASTE REDUCTION
Jet-dyeing machinery was upgraded to low-liquorratio machines with shorter cycles.
This modification reduced usage of chemicals, water, and energy.

Extensive recycling operations are conducted at the plant for plastic cones, plastic, cardboard cones, wooden pallets, cotton wipes, and scrap cloth.

WASTE REDUCTION
Eleven bulk storage tanks were installed onsite to store process chemicals.
Through negotiations with vendors, wooden pallets and 55-gallon shipping drums are now returned to the suppliers. This policy alleviates the need to maintain a storage location for these items onsite and conserves landfill space.

WASTE REDUCTION
Cardboard spinning tubes were replaced with recyclable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cones as they were unrecyclable, because heavy glues are used to manufacture them.
The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cones, which not only last five times longer can also be recycled when they wear out.

CHEMICAL APPROVAL PROCESS

Westpoint Stevens has adopted a chemical approval process, wherein any new chemical must be approved by a committee before it is used in the plant. Chemicals are evaluated for functional use, financial feasibility, employee safety, and environmental and waste treatment impact. The approval process has enabled the company to : Choose alternative chemicals without toxic ingredients that may harm the Lumber River Find dyestuffs that offer lower concentrations of heavy metal Avoid using chemicals that are considered dangerous for storage and employee handling.

WASTE REDUCTION RESULTS

Chemical substitutions and the conversion to natural gas for boiler fuel resulted in the companys reclassification as a minor source under Title V. Upgrades of dye machinery decreased consumption of dye chemicals by 60 to 70 percent. From 1991 to 1994, total pounds of solid waste land filled fell by 39%, from 882 tons to 540 tons. A similar improvement was evident in the percentage of solid waste recycled2,280 tons of material were recycled in 1994, which was an increase from 55 to 75 percent of all solid waste generated.