Objective

The capacities of Indian textile and apparel industry to implement circular approaches in business practices have been strengthened.

Context

• India’s textile and apparel industry is the sixth largest in the world and is also one of the most polluting economic sectors. Key stakeholders lack awareness to drive circular approaches, reduce waste and create closed-loop systems.
• The industry does not have a common vision and suitable strategies for circularity in the sector yet. Promoting an innovative circular approach is, therefore, crucial from a sustainable development perspective for the entire textile sector in India.

Approach including the target group

• Strengthen the capacities of the Indian textile and apparel industry to implement circular approaches, with a particular focus on reducing inputs of harmful substances, recycling textiles and garments, reusing old clothes, and making use of alternative materials and renewable energy.
• Introduction of circular business practices through demonstration projects and preparation of voluntary circular business guidelines/CE manifesto for the textiles sector in India.
• Strengthen and institutionalize an industry-level platform for consultation, knowledge exchange, innovation and collaboration.

Highlight Activities

• Baseline study in three large textile and apparel clusters in India is in progress, namely, in the South, West and Northern regions of the country.
• Project Monitoring & Evaluation framework has been developed
• Project has begun site visits to understand alignment with other textile sustainability projects in the team
• Stakeholder engagement and identification of innovation (through enterprises and research) has begun