The role of Branch Organizations in the Netherlands

1. The role of Branch Organizations in the Netherlands

2. VTN-Modint (Dutch Br.Org. in textile) • Textile industry in the Netherlands • Long term agreement on energy conservation • User groups • Conclusion

3. VTN - Modint • Modint: branch organisation for the Dutch textile, fashion and carpet companies • Over 800 member companies • VTN memberorganization of Modint for the textile industry • 40 industrial members • Some very international oriented • Turnover in 2009: 500 million Euro (in the Netherlands) • Exports: 340 M Euro • Employment: 2600 • Investments: 7 M Euro • Products • Technical textiles (42%) • Clothing (30%) • Interior Textiles (10%)

4. Most important companies • Royal TenCate • Protective textiles • Textiles for sports and leisure (mainly tents) • Geo textiles • Gamma Holding • Technical textiles • African Fashion • Artex • Interior textiles

5. Long Term Agreement on Energy reduction • LTA since 1991 in order to reduce energy consumption by industry • Global warming • Shortage on fossil fuels • Goal in LTA: improvement of energy efficiency at company level by 2% per year • Also energy reduction in the chain is taken into account • Textile industry joint LTA in an early stage • LTA 1 1991-2001 • LTA 2 1998-2008 • LTA 3 2005-2020

6. Implementation LTA • Branch organisation as contract partner • Every company makes own energy efficiency improvement plan (EEIP) for a period of 4 years • Yearly monitoring of the results • Companies assisted by user groups • Specific topic on energy conservation • Based on energy reduction plans of individual companies • External coaching • Branch organisation as organiser and facilitator of user groups

7. User groups • Group of appr. 10 companies • One specific theme • Each company carries out a company specific project to reduce energy consumption • Project has to be realistic, practical and has to be completed within 1 year • 5 meetings • Each company presents the project and the progress in each meeting • In meetings experience and expertise is exchanged between companies • Meetings chaired by experts in the field • Technology suppliers invited to give presentation on their relevant technologies

8. User group themes • Open width washing • Optimization of drying • Steamers • Reduction of water use in printing • Discontinuous processes • Climate control in spinning and weaving companies • Reduction of second choice – first time right • Application of nano technologies • Reuse of excess heat

9. VTN other types of projects • Branch organisation is coordinator in realizing energy conservation projects • Plasma technology • Demonstration of feasibility • Application of Gas fired IR drying (in close cooperation with Eco-ceramics) • And in sustainability projects • Removal of dyestuffs from textile waste water / reuse of water (in close cooperation with Wageningen University and Paques) • Development of a LCA-tool for establishing the environmental impact of textiles (from fiber to disposal)

10. VTN and information • Branch organisation is the liaisson between policy makers and the industry • Active participation in policy groups on energy conservation and environmental issues • Contacts with companies to discuss the issues and to inform the companies on the outcome • Active participation in Euratex working groups • Branch organisation as dissemination channel • Internet (general issues) • TexAlert (technological innovation)

11. Conclusions • Branch organisation has important role in making textile industry more sustainable • Coordination energy saving projects • Contract partner in long term agreements • Coordinator of user group activities • Dissemination of results • Liaison with national and international authorities • Driving “force” to stimulate companies to work on reduction of energy use and increase efficiency • Dutch textile industry can’t do without!