Textile Industry Takes a Step Towards Sustainability in Tunisia

The Technical Center for Textiles (Cettex), in collaboration with the Citet, the BPEH, and the GIZ Tunisia, has supported ten textile companies in Bizerte, Nabeul, and Monastir as part of the A-Reset project. Between 2022 and 2024, these companies benefited from an in-depth evaluation of their washing and dyeing practices for denim, with the goal of reducing their water consumption and improving their recycling practices.

Thanks to the implementation of 25 out of 87 identified recommendations, the project has enabled the companies to save over 230,000 cubic meters of water per year, equivalent to the annual needs of 12,600 people. With a private investment of 5.1 million dinars, the efforts have generated annual savings of 1 million dinars and an average return on investment of 20%.

Nine out of the ten participating companies have reduced their water consumption by an average of 14%, with some achieving up to 65%. These results, based on the principles of reduction, reuse, and recycling of resources, demonstrate that sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand, while reducing dependence on municipal and underground water withdrawals.

The Cettex, a key player in this project, is thrilled with these promising results, which reinforce its role in transitioning towards a sustainable textile industry in Tunisia. Building on this experience, the Cettex plans to extend this approach to other segments of the sector to continue promoting resource efficiency and environmentally friendly practices.