- By Essentials
In the textile sector, there’s a story often hidden among cones, skeins, and balls of alpaca yarn: the story of water. At Essentials Stock Service, we understand that behind every thread lies a process involving communities, technology, and environmental responsibility.
That’s why we celebrate the progress of Inca Tops, our umbrella brand, in expanding its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)—a facility that not only meets national and international regulations, but also redefines what it means to produce with purpose.
This article explores how treated and recirculated water becomes an invisible thread that weaves together sustainability, innovation, and intention in the textile industry.
Water as an Invisible Thread in Textile Production
In textile manufacturing, especially when processing natural fibers, water doesn’t just clean; it connects processes, communities, and territories. In Arequipa, where textile tradition intertwines with Andean culture, responsible water use has become an urgent priority.
Inca Tops’ WWTP: Technology That Breathes Sustainability
Inca Tops led a pioneering project: the expansion of its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), becoming the most sophisticated facility in the alpaca industry by combining three types of treatment—physical, biological, and physicochemical.
The UASB anaerobic bioreactor uses naturally occurring bacteria from the wash water to break down organic matter in the wastewater. This is followed by an aerobic process, and finally, the DAF system completes the treatment by removing fats and solids. The result: water of a quality that allows us to envision its reuse in the production cycle or for irrigating green areas.
Recirculation: When Water Gives Life Back to Fiber
Recirculation is not just a technical improvement. It’s a statement of principles. In the near future, Inca Tops will reuse treated water—reducing its water footprint, protecting underground sources, and ensuring that every processed fiber, whether royal alpaca or merino wool, carries an added value: respect for the environment.
This allows us to offer more competitive products without compromising quality or the planet.
Environmental and Social Impact: Beyond Washing Alpaca
This model benefits more than just the company. The communities that care for alpacas, the artisans who transform the fiber, and the customers who choose conscious yarns, all are part of a strengthened ecosystem.
The implementation of the biological treatment was co-financed by Innóvate Perú and supported by local universities, demonstrating that sustainability can be both collaborative and replicable.
Essentials Stock Service: Yarns Born from Commitment to the Planet
At Essentials Stock Service, we offer 1 kg cones of selected natural fibers such as MUHU, 100% baby alpaca and WANKA, 100% royal alpaca. Every thread we deliver is backed by responsible processes like those driven by Inca Tops.
Our clients value not only quality but also the ethical and environmental origin of our products. And every end consumer who chooses our fibers is unknowingly weaving a story of respect and transformation.
Conclusion
Sustainability in textiles doesn’t begin or end with the product. It begins with water, with technical decisions, with long-term vision. Inca Tops’ WWTP is more than a plant, it’s a symbol of how the industry can evolve without losing its essence. At Essentials Stock Service, we believe every yarn cone can be part of that evolution.
And you, what story are you weaving?
