UK-headquartered workwear textile manufacturer Carrington Textiles is achieving significant carbon emissions reductions following the installation of a biomass boiler at the plant of MCG, its joint venture in Guimarães, Portugal.

The initiative has allowed the factory to produce 95% of the steam needed for manufacturing while reducing natural gas consumption by 70%.

A biomass boiler uses organic materials such as wood chips, agricultural residues or other biological matter to produce heat and energy. This technology serves as an alternative to fossil fuels, significantly cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.

MGC’s biomass boiler uses responsibly sourced wood chips from local forests within a 50 km radius of the factory, all certified by SURE (Sustainable Resources). The raw material consists of leftover wood intended for the paper industry that needs to be removed to prevent fires. The ash generated in the process is used as soil fertiliser after being treated to avoid soil contamination.

The boiler has allowed the textile manufacturer to decrease its overall CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2022.

“The installation of the biomass boiler marks a significant milestone in our journey towards driving energy efficiency in our manufacturing processes,” says MGC managing director Jose Melo. “The substantial reduction in our CO2 emissions is a testament to our commitment to environmental stewardship.”

MGC has also implemented a series of other initiatives resulting in a reduction in water consumption by over 13%, waste and plastic usage reduction, environmental management training for all employees, the implementation of energy management systems and wastewater treatment to remove microplastics and PFAs.

www.carrington.co.uk