German specialty chemicals company CHT Group is providing technical support to the PP-free Denim Mission, an industry initiative developed by Ruess Group to encourage alternatives to potassium permanganate (PP) in denim finishing whose use has raised concerns around worker exposure, chemical handling and wastewater management.

The initiative aims to promote scalable finishing processes that can deliver consistent fading effects while supporting safer chemical management and commercial viability. Technologies under consideration include enzyme-based bleaching, laser and ozone finishing. However, alternatives must meet requirements for consistent appearance, garment quality and cost-effective industrial production.

The scale of PP use remains significant, with an industry report estimating that nearly 2,000 tonnes are consumed annually in denim finishing worldwide. CHT estimates that global production uses approximately 250,000 litres of permanganate solution daily. Its inclusion in the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Chemical Watchlist in 2026 has further increased industry attention on alternatives.

A separate study by Environmental Impact Measuring (EIM) and BCome highlighted the potential of alternative finishing processes. In the assessed factory process, Jeanologia’s ATMOS technology reduced water consumption by 96.3%, energy use by 20.8%, chemical impact by 77% and process-related emissions by 38.2% compared with conventional stone washing and PP spraying.