Farm Rio transforms denim industry with sustainable production

Farm Rio, a well-known Brazilian clothing brand, is prioritizing sustainability in denim production by utilizing smart chemistry, ozone technology, and a local supply chain.

In the last year, Farm Rio successfully produced 158,175 Re-Farm jeans, a line introduced in 2019 that incorporates biodegradable products during the washing process. These jeans are certified to meet the international Green Screen standard, ensuring compliance with environmentally safe manufacturing practices.

Re-Farm jeans are made with 100% ABR (Responsible Brazilian Cotton) certified cotton from suppliers. The production process in Brazil includes cleaning with ozone, reducing the need for non-ionic antimigrant wetting detergents.

Compared to an average pair of jeans, Re-Farm jeans significantly reduce water consumption (by 47%), energy usage (by 46%), and carbon dioxide emissions (by 1.3 kg), equivalent to 30 hours of mobile phone use per garment. Since its inception in 2019, the Re-Farm jeans line has saved 7 million liters of water, 133,000 kWh of electricity, and avoided the emission of 210 tons of carbon gas equivalent.

Farm Rio’s sustainability efforts extend to reforestation initiatives, including a program called “1,000 Trees a Day, Every Day,” which offsets greenhouse gas emissions through carbon credits from forest restoration. The company is committed to transitioning to renewable energy for its facilities and aims to reduce water consumption and wastewater production by 45% by 2030.

In 2022, Farm Rio’s global business reported gross revenues of $93 million, a significant increase from the previous year, and the brand is expanding its presence in Europe, with plans to open a flagship store in London later this year.