Home > Edit > Story

TC, GTZ-Proklima tie-up to phase out ozone depleting substances

E-Tex Staff - Mumbai

The Textiles Committee (TC) has joined hands with GTZ-Proklima, the German technical cooperation agency, to phase-out the use of ozone depleting substances, namely carbon tetrachloride (CTC) from the textile and garment sectors. GTZ-Proklima is already supporting the ozone cell of the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) in this endeavour.

The recent collaboration between the TC and the German agency is expected to further this objective. The committee will provide technical and scientific support to GTZ-Proklima through its facilities, know-how and networking in the industry. The TC will support GTZ with the verification of the translation of information dissemination handout prepared by GTZ-Proklima, and also distribute the handout to its members and clients using its own database and also garner support of the various regional textile associations for the same.

The TC will also carry out testing of alternative solutions identified and provided by the GTZ consultants, for any presence of the ozone depleting chemicals. The results of the same will be passed on to the GTZ consultants. The details of the testing protocols are still to be worked out mutually, according to TC officials. The TC and GTZ-Proklima will also identify suitable alternatives to substitute CTC in the sector. The two agencies will

jointly plan and organise two half-day information exchange seminars in the region, targetting specified affected sub-sectors. On its part, GTZ-Proklima will provide all the necessary technical support through its two consultants, provide printed copies of the handouts to be distributed to the industry, testing expenses to the tune of Rs 2,000 for the complete set of tests on every sample. “The expected analysis are GC-MS, GC-ECD, etc, and about 20-30 alternatives are expected to be tests. The total cost in any case will not exceed Rs 50,000,” said the TC officials. The officials further stated that GTZ-Proklima will also provide testing expenses for effective testing using approximately 20 alternatives.