Introduction

About Responsible Waterless Finishing

The Responsible Waterless Finishing (RWF) is an international, voluntary standard that addresses clean garment finishing process in factories. Devoted to promote green environment as volunteer.

Individual sites are certified by independent third-party certification using annual audits. The finishing process of the garment is done by the specific mechanical method, under the requested mechanism with appropriate temperature and time.

Goals

The goals of the Responsible Waterless Finishing are to provide the industry with the best possible tool to:

· Devote and promote green environmental protection as volunteer.

· Recognize the best practices of garment finishing process with less impact towards environment;

· Ensure that garment comes from manufacturer with progressive approach to a zero waste water emission in finishing process;

· Create an industry benchmark that will drive improvements in garment finishing process in sustainable way; and

· Provide a robust tracking on every order from garment finishing process to final RWF product so that consumers are confident that the products they choose is truly RWF.

Acknowledgements

The Responsible Waterless Finishing would like to extend special acknowledgment to garment factories around the world who have adopted the Responsible Waterless Finishing.  

Using this document

This document sets the overall requirements for compliance with the RWF.

This standard includes six key sections, include:

· General Information

· Principles of RWF Certification

· Water Saving

· Energy Saving

· Professional knowledge regarding RWF

· Process Inspection Certification

Section A – General Information

A1. References

A1.1 All certified organizations are subject to below requirements.

A1.1.1 Process Inspection Certification – The Process Inspection Certification provides companies with a tool to verify a specific treatment implemented in a final product. It requires the certified organization takes sufficient steps to ensure that the integrity and identity of the treatment is executed.

A1.1.2 Logo Use and Claim – It describes the language and design requirements for communication related to the RWF.

Section B - Principles of RWF Certification

B1. Scope

B1.1 RWF certification applies to the finishing process of garment material from washing to baking, usually until the process before ironing.

B1.2 The RWF may be applied globally.

B.1.3 The Certification applies to manufacturing of finishing process only.

B1.4 The Certification applies to products that make use of Waterless Finishing process that achieve below characteristics. See Section B2 for more information.

B1.4.1 Water saving

B1.4.2 Energy Saving

B1.4.3 Manpower Saving

B1.4.4 Time Saving

B1.5 The certification may also apply to other category of apparel that carry out RWF process.  

B1.6 The RWF technique adopted by this Certification Mark is applicable for the treatment of the following garment materials (especially suitable to the water sensitive garment materials):

· Cotton material

· Fancy yarn knits

· Silk, viscose and rayon

· Wool materials (e.g.: lambswool and merino wool)

· Blended of the above fibres

B2. Claims

B2.1 Claim related to RWF may be either product-specific or general (non-product specific).

B2.1.1 RWF products that meet all the following criteria qualify for product-specific labelling.

a. Product is certified of its finishing process.

b. All characteristics in the finishing process are RWF certified.

c. All artwork and language meet the requirements of RWF.

d. Approval of final artwork has been obtained from RWF.

e. Only certified organizations may physically attach product-specific claims with reference to the RWF (e.g. hangtags).

B2.1.2 Organization that meet one or more of the following criteria may make general marketing claims (non-product specific) related to RWF:

a. Organizations with current certification to the RWF.

b. Organizations that purchase certified products or products that implemented certified finishing process.

B3. Manufacturer Certification

B3.1 The following modules apply to all manufacturers:

Section C: Water Saving

Section D: Energy Saving

Section E: Professional knowledge regarding RWF

Section F: Process Inspection certification

B3.2 Manufacturers may carry both RWF and normal finishing machineries.

B3.3 Manufacturers shall provide full access to all sites for the third-party inspector.

B3.4 Annual on-site audits are required

B3.5 Certification may also include additional confirmation visits by the third-party inspector without notice.

B4. Process Inspection Certification

B4.1 Process Inspection certification applies to every order of RWF product.

Section C - Water Saving Criteria

C1. Zero water

C1.1 Use solvent as processing media to replace water during the finishing process of garment.

C1.2 Solvent is atomized during the finishing process of garment.  

C1.3 Zero water emission in the finishing process of garment.

C1.4 Methodology of measurement

C1.4.1 Traditional methodology

· Install the water flow sensors and meter to measuring the three-phase water consumption of washing machine, dehydrator and drying machine in traditional finishing process.

C1.4.2 RWF methodology

· Install the water flow sensors and meter to measuring the three-phase water consumption of Waterless Finishing Machine in RWF process.

Section D – Energy Saving Criteria

D1. Energy saving

D1.1 55% of electricity is saved compared with traditional production process of garment.

D1.2 Compare the energy using performances in traditional and RWF by on-site measurement and verification methodology

D1.3 Methodology of measurement

D1.3.1 Traditional methodology

· Install the energy sensors and power meter to measuring the three-phase electricity consumption of washing machine, dehydrator and drying machine in traditional finishing process.

D1.3.2 RWF methodology

· Install the energy sensors and power meter to measuring the three-phase electricity consumption of Waterless Finishing Machine in RWF process.

Section E - Professional Knowledge Criteria Regarding RWF

E1. Professional knowledge regarding RWF

E1.1 To ensure the potential authorized user about the professional knowledge regarding the RWF technique by RWF.

E1.2 To ensure the authorized user completely understanding the characteristics of the technique.

E1.3 To examine the authorized user is knowledgeable and capable to implement RWF process.

Section F - Process Inspection Certification Criteria

F1. Process Inspection Certificate

F1.1 The integrity of certified RWF garment is maintained through each batch.

F1.2 The organization shall maintain records of the following:

G1.2.1 The amount of garment planned to proceed RWF on each batch.

G1.2.2 The amount of RWF garment produced.

G1.2.3 The amount of garment sold as RWF certified.

G1.2.4 Technical specifications (e.g. composition) of garment.

F1.3 The organization shall conduct annual RWF product reconciliation which demonstrates that the amount of RWF garment sold as certified is plausible based on its capacity.

F1.4 The organization shall request process inspection certificates from the third-party inspection or RWF in-house inspector.