The Indian government has created a “Sustainability Cell” in the Ministry of Textiles to deal with the challenges that textile exporters face when exporting products to most developed economies.
In fact, in line with the sustainability and circularity initiative of the European Union the Textiles Committee (TC) of Government of India has entered into a Cooperation Agreement with United Nations Environment Programme on “Mainstreaming Sustainability & Circularity in the Textiles Sector.” It aims to promote sustainable practices in the textile sector to minimize the negative environmental impacts of the Indian textile industry. It would also mainstream knowledge of circular production best practices in the textile and apparel sector.
A one day Stakeholders Consultation on “Sustainability in the Textile Value Chain (TVC) in India” was also organized last week (on 7th October 2022) in New Delhi to commemorate the World Cotton Day.
It goes without saying that Textile Value Chain (TVC) plays an important role in the world economy but its adverse contribution towards the environment must not be overlooked. The global textile industry emits 1.20 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, and it is estimated that every second an equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is either burnt or land filled. Global sustainability is linked with sustainable fashion industry.
Past attempts to attain sustainability in textile value chain were inadequate. Now sustainability and circularity in the t-sector need to be approached more holistically and in a focused and institutionalized manner. If India has to achieve its leadership role in the sector in this environmentally conscious market.
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association in Pakistan also signed a similar agreement with an international organization for cleaner textile processes.
