PLANET
A Closer Look at How We’re Making a Difference in Water Conservation
August 2025 By HBI Global Sustainability Officer Teddy Mendoza
Water scarcity is a real and daunting problem in many parts of the world.
It comes as no secret that making clothes requires water, leaving the textile industry in a bit of a bind to address this issue.
So how do apparel companies become good stewards of such a vital resource?
Short answer, it’s not easy.
At HBI, we understand that change takes purpose, meeting passion and ingenuity. I’ve always been fascinated by how we conserve water at HBI.
Here’s what makes the difference.
Laying the Groundwork
More than 80% of the cotton we consume is grown on farms in southeastern parts of the U.S. – regions that receive substantial natural rainfall.
The simple decision to prioritize U.S. cotton already reduces our water footprint immensely.
From there, we keep a sharp focus on water use where it matters most.
Our yarn-to-fabric transformation – known to consume the most water in the production cycle – takes place at our textile mills that are purposely situated in non-water-stressed areas in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.
To make sure it stays that way, we use real-time monitoring systems to track withdrawals from water basins.
On top of that, we also assess our impact annually through the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Risk filter tool.
Turning Challenge into Innovation
A strong foundation is just the start.
Over time, I’ve seen our teams rethink and rework our water efficiency routines at every step of the process, including fabric dyeing.
The key here has been identifying the connection between water, energy use, and smarter dyeing chemicals. This breakthrough has pushed us farther, faster.
Inside our El Salvador Textiles and Socks facilities, we now reuse water from the bleach and dye process – circulating it through holding tanks and then back into production. Maximizing dyes and chemicals at our Dos Rios Textiles facility in the DR has also led to major savings in water use.
Together, these innovations helped save around 36 million gallons in 2024 alone. That’s more than 53 Olympic-sized pools.
To add on, in Dos Rios, we’re even collecting rainwater from the roof and reusing it in production – recovering almost 400,000 gallons every year.
And it wouldn’t be responsible water use without returning it to nature clean. Our state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facilities align to industry-wide standards like Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), making sure what leaves our facilities is safe for the environment.
Our practices are always evolving. And our people? They are restless in the pursuit of improving our environmental footprint.
Every Drop Counts
Since 2019, we’ve reduced our water usage intensity (gallons of water used per pound of finished fabric) by 19%.
When we received an A- score in the 2024 CDP Water Security Report, we were placed near the top of more than 22,000 companies rated globally.
This recognition means a lot. It validates the years of effort and the steps we’re taking every day.
I’m inspired by the work we are doing and the people I’m surrounded by – individuals who show up committed to doing better for our planet.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey at HBI, it’s this: sustainability is about creating a better way of doing business.
And it’s a story I’ll always be proud to tell.
Want to learn more? See more about our water transparency.