India's Textile Industry Embraces Sustainability
India's Textile Industry Embraces Sustainability
India's $175-billion textile industry, at an inflection point, has increasingly aligned with the rest of the world on environmental concerns. The sector, projected to reach $300 billion by 2030, is now being advocated by industry leaders and government officials to transition toward greener methods that spur economic development and bring down the carbon footprint of the industry.
The textile sector globally is said to account for about 10% of the world's carbon emissions, and Indian textile industry players are doing their bit to lighten the impact on the environment through adoption of biodegradable materials and implementation of recycling initiatives and energy-efficient technologies. This was one major topic that formed one of the thrust areas of a recent summit held by Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) in New Delhi, where the industry vowed to chalk out a fine balance between economic expansion with environmental responsibility and emerge as a global hub for sustainable textiles.
Sustainability Becomes a Priority
Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for Textiles, during the summit, alluded to integrating sustainability in the growth framework of the Indian textile industry. He outlined the commitment of the government in helping the industry to go green and touched upon his dream to establish India as a leader in sustainable textile production. She further emphasized that the need to go up to the use of biodegradable materials and enhanced recycling, particularly in garment, was dire for the industry in India if it was to remain competitive globally.
Other Initiatives by the Government: ESG Task Force, Production Linked Incentive Scheme, and National Technical Textile Mission were also among the key drivers that would help bring in transformative change in the industry. These initiatives will enable innovation in sustainable practices, drive technological advancement, and thereby assist the sector in enhancing its environmental performance.
Aiming $300 Billion by 2030
Additional Secretary Rohit Kansal of the Ministry of Textiles said the value of the Indian textile industry would reach $300 billion by 2030, of which $100 billion would be in the form of exports. Growth drivers, according to him, would include automation, digitization, and the adoption of circular economy principles. It is especially important in the textile industry, as the current situation defines it as the third-largest contributor of municipal waste globally, applying a focus on the circular economy model of reducing waste through reusing and recycling materials.
Kansal emphasized that technology is going to be a fulcrum for the sector's sustainable transformation. Automation and digitization can help cut energy consumption and waste; innovative solutions like waterless dyeing and energy-efficient garment manufacturing enable producers to reduce environmental impact without compromising quality or output.
Innovative Best Practices for a Greener Future
Leaders from different parts of the industry presented various technological advancements that would make textile production more sustainable. M S Dadu, Chairman, Assocham Textiles informed that a number of Indian companies were deputing cutting-edge solutions to ensure less water and energy consumption. For instance, waterless dyeing technology has been introduced, which decreases the intake of water remarkably, which is quite critical with traditional textile manufacturing being highly water-intensive.
The other spotlight was on Energy Efficiency, and in this respect, Dadu added that several manufacturers are resorting to energy-saving equipment, which reduces overall consumption and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions. These innovations go hand in hand with servicing the environment and also position Indian textile manufacturers as global leaders in sustainable production practices-a feat useful in giving these manufacturers a high edge in the competitive global marketplace.
The Role of ESG in the Textile Sector
With every industry in the world taking a cue from sustainability, it is becoming one of the most important concern points for the Indian textile industry. Milind Hardikar, Co-chairman, Assocham Textiles, said companies now feel the urgency of integrating environmental, social and governance criteria into their operations. The industry is making amends with society to overcome nagging issues regarding workers' welfare and community involvement.
In the near future, it is very likely that ESG principles will play a vital role in differentiating Indian textile companies. The implementation of ESG principles will give Indian textile companies an edge in terms of winning international contracts and partnerships, since investors and consumers are increasingly looking out for products that are ethically produced and have low environmental impacts-a positioning where India's textile sector is placing its bets.
Circular Economy in Action
Ajay Sardana from Reliance Industries updated the audience about some of the key developments on the recycling and circular economic fronts. In this context, he revealed that 93% of PET bottles in India are presently being recycled into premium polyester garments-which is important to characterize the drive of the industry toward a less wasteful environment with maximum use of recycled materials. This is not only in the sense of reducing the rate at which plastic wastes make their way into landfills but also in providing an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional textiles.
This means that waste recycling and the use of biodegradable materials will be even more central to the production process as the industry looks toward the future. In this way, the sector is in a position to continue growing and innovating while significantly reducing its global carbon footprint.
Sustainable Future for Indian Textiles
The leaders of India's textile industry are steering the sector, in its emerging expansion, toward a future in which economic growth and environmental stewardship walk hand in hand. Also with ample government support, a rising focus on sustainable practices within the industry has put the sector at a very good vantage point to raise the bar globally in the realm of green textiles.
In this context, such an ambitious growth with the least environmental degradation would only be made possible by material use of biodegradable materials, recycling, and energy-efficient technologies. The textile sector in India is set to play a major role in shaping the future of sustainable fashion with rising global demand for sustainable products.
Source: Assocham Summit, Ministry of Textiles