Downlite is installing a new wastewater recovery system that will allow the company to recycle and reuse up to 99 percent of the water used to clean and sanitize its high-quality down and feather fills it provides to the outdoor, home furnishings and hospitality
markets.

Downlite’s down processing facility, based just outside of Cincinnati, has the capacity to supply more than 50,000 pounds of clean and ready down fill material per week, which requires a large quantity of water to ensure the raw materials have been sufficiently cleaned and sterilized.

“Our wastewater recovery system will collect all of the contaminated water discharged from the wash – filter and treat it – and then return it back into the system to be reused,” said Josh Werthaiser, Downlite CFO, who is spearheading the sustainability initiative. “The system has the capacity to reduce Downlite’s annual water consumption by up to 54 million gallons.”

The company has partnered with water treatment specialist, AOP-Trident, to develop its custom wastewater recovery system, which will return clean, filtered water back into the wash process. Construction of Downlite’s wastewater recovery system will begin this fall and be running by April 2016.

Downlite's wastewater recovery initiative follows its successful scrap recycling and LED light-saving programs. Each year, Downlite recovers and recycles more than 95 percent of its internal fiber scrap into usable materials – equating to more than 1 million pounds of material that would otherwise be lost to landfills. Additionally, polyester batting and other quilted scrap waste is baled and sold to an outside source that regrinds the material to be used in other industrial end-use textiles. The company also shreds trimmings from mattress pads to be used in less expensive poly-pillows and dog beds.

Replacing traditional lighting fixtures with motion sensing, high efficiency LED lighting at two of Downlite’s U.S. plants has already reduced electricity use by more than 55 percent. Plans are now in place to upgrade another two of its processing facilities in 2016.

Downlite supplies high-quality bulk fills to furniture, outerwear and sleeping bag manufacturers around the globe. Downlite is a bluesign system partner, TDS and RDS certified, and a proud member of the American Down & Feather Council (ADFC).