Industrial Reuse Project of the Year
Fakir Knitwears Water Reuse Project, Bangladesh
What is it?
A 2,400m3/d treatment plant delivering the first commercially viable, large-scale water reuse model for Bangladesh’s textile sector. The $1.7 million initiative cuts pressure on groundwater resources in the highly water-stressed Meghna basin, while strengthening long-term water security for both industry and surrounding communities.
Who is involved?
The project is anchored by Primark, H&M Group and their supply chain partner Fakir Knitwears Ltd. Panta Rei provided advanced treatment while Grundfos provided pumping technologies. WaterAid supported broader stewardship outcomes. The UK FCDO’s Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution programme supplemented 35% of the cost while the World Bank’s 2030 Water Resources Group supported strategically and technically.
What makes it special?
- The project delivered immediate environmental benefits by enabling the reuse of 30% of site wastewater. By treating wastewater to ZDHC ‘Aspirational’ standards, pollutant loads are lowered and secondary pollution risks seen in typical zero liquid discharge systems are mitigated by blending concentrates into compliant flows.
- Co-benefits are reaped via the reduction in groundwater extraction and associated energy use, projected to save 46,202 tCO2e by 2031.
- By integrating competing‑brand engagement, supplier leadership, NGO collaboration and multilateral policy alignment, a scalable industrial reuse blueprint for Bangladesh’s textile sector has been established, shaping the industry’s water secure future.
Hubei Yihua-Brunp Iron Phosphate Resource Recovery Project, China
What is it?
A 7,500m³/d wastewater resource recovery facility at Hubei Yichang Yihua-Brunp New Materials, treating highly acidic effluent from iron phosphate production for lithium-ion battery materials. All recovered materials are reused onsite in battery precursor production, eliminating the need for external disposal.
Who is involved?
The project was developed by Yichang Yihua-Brunp New Materials, with Hangzhou Water Treatment Technology Development Centre serving as EPC contractor and supplier of core membrane, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis technologies.
What makes it special?
- The pioneering system achieves full resource recovery from strongly acidic wastewater without conventional neutralisation, enabling circularity in iron phosphate production. 2.6 million tonnes of water is recovered annually, alongside 13,000 tonnes of acid and 3,000 tonnes of metal resources.
- A membrane-based process coupled with electrodialysis allows separation and reuse under acidic conditions, while avoiding evaporative crystallisation. This has reduced capital costs by over 30%, with operations and maintenance costs slashed by around 70%.
- The plant operates without neutralisers or routine chemical cleaning, thereby eliminating solid waste, reducing chemical use by 11,000 tonnes annually and delivering total cost savings of around $8 million per year.
Jeddah Industrial Cities Zero-Discharge Water Reuse Project, Saudi Arabia
What is it?
A zero-discharge water reuse system serving Jeddah Industrial Cities 2 and 3. The project brought a dormant wastewater plant back into service as a strategic utility capable of delivering up to 40,000m³/d of high-quality water to one of the region’s most dynamic industrial hubs.
Who is involved?
Tawzea Aquapor acted as concessionaire, engineering integrator and operations leader, delivering the project under a 25-year contract. SALFO & SAPL provided basic design, with civil and mechanical works carried out by multiple contractors. Tecofi supplied valves, KSB provided pumping systems, and Siemens delivered SCADA and metering.
What makes it special?
- The project transformed a stranded, non-compliant treatment asset into a fully circular industrial water provider, integrating treatment, storage, and a dedicated distribution network. Serving over 700 industrial facilities, its modular design is already expanding to meet rising demand.
- Upgraded treatment trains, including DAF, extended aeration and tertiary polishing to TSS of less than 1mg/L, deliver consistent quality. 72 hours of storage capacity and a 125,000m³/d pumping station ensure dependable service during peak demand.
- The project provides a cost-effective alternative to energy-intensive desalination and stressed groundwater. Delivered in only 12 months, its integrated delivery, scalable approach, and long-term model will ensure resilience for Jeddah’s growing industrial base.
Tesla Zero-Liquid Discharge Plant, Germany
What is it?
A 65m3/h zero liquid discharge plant at Tesla’s electric vehicle Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, optimised through operational refinements in 2025 to save further water resources and set a new standard for water circularity in the automotive industry.
Who is involved?
Tesla led plant design and construction alongside Envirochemie. Kurita/DuPont supplied closed‑circuit RO skids, complementing existing Envirochemie systems. Steffen Hartmann installed RO units and evaporators, Jiarong supplied disc‑tube RO and Hager + Elsässer (now Gradiant) delivered high‑concentration RO.
What makes it special?
- The facility is now reusing 100% of process effluent for production applications including painting, corresponding to over 300,000m3 since the start of ZLD operations. As a result, the site’s freshwater consumption has dropped by a third.
- The ZLD treatment train was specially adapted to the facility’s complex wastewater characteristics, integrating energy-efficient, high-recovery RO systems alongside evaporators designed to handle high chloride concentrations. The site now achieves an average water consumption of 1.51m3 per vehicle, significantly below the industry average of 2.84m3 despite a higher degree of vertical integration in the production processes.
- The commissioning of the ZLD plant completed Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg’s adoption of a closed-loop model. It requires 46% less freshwater than the industry benchmark, pioneering effective water use within electric vehicle manufacturing.
Total Circularity at PetStar, Mexico
What is it?
A 550m3/d water treatment and reuse project at the world’s largest food-grade PET recycling facility, processing 5.5 million bottles annually. It recovers 370m³/d for reuse, advancing PetStar towards its goal of water neutrality while maintaining quality standards for recycled resin production.
Who is involved?
Veolia designed and delivered the project as engineering and procurement contractor, providing proprietary treatment technologies and chemical treatment services to optimise reverse osmosis performance. Operations and maintenance are managed in-house by PetStar, Mexico’s leading food-grade PET recycler, as part of its sustainability and circular economy commitments.
What makes it special?
- The fully integrated water reuse solution enables circular water management in large-scale PET recycling, reducing reliance on freshwater resources and closing the loop on plastic and water.
- A multi-stage treatment train integrates Veolia’s proprietary technologies, Densator rapid sedimentation, ZeeWeed MBR, PROflex reverse osmosis, Aquaray UV disinfection, and activated carbon, producing high-quality recycled water for uses from irrigation to boiler feed and process reintegration.
- The project enables 60% water reuse at the facility, reducing freshwater demand in the water-stressed Valle de Toluca region. The 370m³ recovered daily equals about half the water consumption of the nearby San Cayetano Morelos community, delivering impact beyond the plant fenceline.