Xeros Technology has partnered with IFB Industries Limited, India’s largest domestic and
commercial washing machine manufacturer, to launch a washing machine which reduces the environmental impact of clothes laundering using Xeros’ patent-protected innovations.
IFB will launch the premium 11kg domestic washing machines in its Indian retail stores in
December 2022, following the successful launch of a 38kg Xeros commercial machine in 2021. The 11kg machine incorporates Xeros’ Care technology and is designed for use in large domestic households as well as small commercial operations. The machine uses up to 50% less water and 25% less chemistry than a conventional machine, and also reduces time by up to 25%.
Freshwater supplies across the planet are a finite resource: only 3% of the world’s water is
freshwater, of which two-thirds of that is inaccessible. 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries, of which 733 million live in high and critically water-stressed countries.ii To add to this, every year around 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year.
As the population continues to grow and the climate continues to warm, the stress of water
resources will increase. For example, Asia and the Pacific region has the lowest per capita water availability in the world, yet groundwater use in the region is predicted to increase by 30 percent by 2050. The need for the adoption of technologies that reduce our water impact is pressing.
The launch of this 11kg machine complements ongoing preparation for field trials in January 2023 of a new 9kg domestic washing machine designed for mass market adoption. IFB is expected to install trial machines in homes in Indian early in the new year and will then proceed with a nationwide launch in Q1 2023, subject to the field trials being successful.
The Xeros Care technology uses a combination of patented XDrum and XOrb technology and can be integrated at any scale to enhance domestic and commercial washing machines.
Using polymer spheres, XOrbs, allows for a significant reduction of water, chemistry, and energy, with the benefit of more gentle mechanical action to improve wash performance and better care for fabrics. The XOrbs are released through a closed-loop system, complimenting wash programmes to reduce the impact of laundry. At the end of the cycle, the XDrum collects the XOrbs back into the storage system.
Not only does the Xeros Care technology reduce environmental impact during washing, but it also helps clothes last longer. In our current throw away culture we buy 60% more clothing than we did 15 years ago but only keep things for half as long,v with a reported 73% of textiles ending up in landfills. Studies have found if we could extend the life of 1 in 5 garments by just 10%, an estimated 6.4 million tonnes of textiles would be diverted from landfills, potentially saving 3 million tonnes of CO2 and 150 million litres of water every year.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with IFB, a company that shares our values to reduce the impact of clothing on the planet,” said Neil Austin, CEO of Xeros. “The imminent launch of the 11kg washing machine will enable consumers to use our proprietary technology in their home for the first time. This is an exciting milestone for Xeros as we continue to accelerate the adoption of our technology and help minimise water impact of clothes washing.”
Further developments from the Xeros and IFB partnership in both the domestic and commercial laundry markets are expected to be announced in 2023.
