Sustainability in textile industry practical & economical: Experts

Sustainability and circularity in the textile industry are not only practical but also economically beneficial, even for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Implementing solar energy can lower production costs, while sustainability certifications can open access to premium markets for businesses of all sizes. These points were made by expert panellists in a webinar that focused on sustainability and circularity in the textile industry. The consensus was that while the necessary technology and systems are available, all stakeholders need to take responsibility to reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. 

The webinar, titled ‘Sustainability in Action: Exploring Circularity and Sustainable Solutions in the Textile Industry,’ was organised by Fairtrade India & the Centre for Social Markets (CSM) in collaboration with Fibre2Fashion. The event, which took place on Wednesday, was supported by the European Union and the Switch Asia Grants Programme. 

Prasad Pant, the South Asia director and Competence Centres director of ZDHC Foundation, Amsterdam, stated in a session on ‘Reducing Toxic Chemical Use and Waste in Textiles’ that there is a need to change mindsets for better adoption of sustainable practices. He emphasised that to really become sustainable, the industry needs to ensure better chemicals, transparency, and commitment. The industry should focus on the entire process, including input, the process itself, and output. 

Experts at a sustainability webinar argued that circularity and sustainability are practical and economically beneficial for the textile industry.
Implementing solar energy can reduce costs, while sustainability certifications can provide access to premium markets.
All industry stakeholders must commit to reducing environmental footprints, experts said.

Anjani Prasad, the managing director and vice president (South Asia) of Archroma, Huntsman Textile Effects, stressed that sustainable practices would increase the cost of production. He pointed out that it will become a problem if the entire value chain does not come forward to bear the shared responsibility. The industry will need substantial capital, which would exert pressure on its cost of production. 

Dr. Swapneshu Baser, the managing director of Deven Supercriticals Pvt Ltd, explained his company’s technology, which can ensure zero water discharge in the dyeing process. 

During another session titled ‘Increasing Water Efficiency and Circularity in Textiles’, Dr. Vanita Prasad, the founder, director and CTO of REVY Environmental Solutions Pvt Ltd, expressed that resources such as water and energy need to be consumed very cautiously. She stated that the industry must learn how to convert waste into resources. If resources are consumed conservatively, carbon footprint can be reduced. REVY offers services to help industries minimise water resources usage. 

Ganesh Shankar, the co-founder and CEO of FluxGen Tech, proudly shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned his company in relation to water conservation during his weekly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat. He explained that his company provides services to help other companies manage and mitigate the risks associated with water crises, which could potentially halt production. FluxGen Tech offers solutions for monitoring water supply, managing water resources, and treating waste effluent. 

During a session on ‘Green and Circular Energy Solutions in Textiles’, Dhwani Sunku, the head of business development – growth and partnerships at U-Solar, stated that her company provides solar energy solutions. She mentioned that a company can recover its investment in solar energy within a period of 3-5 years. After this period, it will have an energy source for the next 2-3 decades with no running costs. U-Solar also offers financial arrangements to provide solar energy solutions on an EMI basis. 

Ajay Balachandran, the regional manager of energy efficiency at Promethean Energy, said that his company provides a heat recovery system, which reduces costs and time in the processing of the textile industry. 

Ganesh Anantharaman, the founder and managing partner of SAGS Apparels, shared his experience with sustainable practices in his garment company. He reported that these practices not only reduced production costs but also improved the company’s efficiency. He affirmed that sustainable practices are not only practical but can also be profitable for the industry. 

Dr. Binay Kumar Choudhury, chairman of Control Union India, interpreted hundreds of standards and certifications during a session on ‘Sustainability Standards in Textiles’. He explained that these standards and certifications offer credibility and assurance to buyers. Moreover, they can also facilitate a company’s entry into premium markets.

Abhishek Jani, the chief executive officer of the Fairtrade India Project, further expounded on how the business case for certification can be built in terms of fulfiling compliances, ESG reporting, risk management and for building credibility with stakeholders. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)