Reducing our footprint

Over the years, we’ve erased all heavy metals and harmful chemicals and replaced them with a unique dyeing and enzyme treatment. It took time to develop and refine – and we’re still using it today. In 2010, our first products were certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Since then, many more have followed.

Now – in 2025 – we’ve taken another big step. We’ve invested in a heat pump system and a buffer tank at our dyehouse. Together, they help us save large amounts of CO2 and many millions of litres of water. Every year.

This is the first solution of its kind in Danmark within the production industry.

A heat pump that's 40% more efficient

At DILLING, we’re committed to reinvesting part of our earnings into improving our production. The new heat pump is part of an investment of £2.8 million. It was custom-made by skilled engineers in Germany and Denmark – built specifically to suit the specific needs of our dyehouse.

This isn’t like the heat pumps you may know. It is approximately 40% more efficient because it is turbine-driven and rotates using electromagnetism. It transfers the excess heat from the dyeing processes to the clean production water. This saves time, money, and energy.

Think of a kettle: if you fill it with cold water, it takes longer to warm up the water and uses more power. If the water is already a bit warm, the warming process is quicker and more energy-efficient. It’s the same for the heat pump. This is expected to save us up to 200 tonnes of CO2 per year.

A tank the size of a bus

The new buffer tank can hold 100,000 litres of water at a time and is the size of a bus. It functions as a water and heat reservoir. Excess heat from wastewater can be stored, and clean cooling water from our production can be reused – instead of ending up in the drain.

The estimate is that it can reduce water consumption by up to 18 million litres per year.

Together, the heat pump and the buffer tank help us reduce our footprint. We know there's always room for improvement, but we're pleased with this important step in the right direction.