New Delhi: The 3rd Sustainable Textile Summit, hosted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), concluded successfully on 17th September 2024, with a strong emphasis on India’s potential to lead the global textile industry in sustainability.

 The summit brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss innovative solutions and explore opportunities for a more sustainable textile future. Key themes addressed included ethical sourcing, labor practices, carbon emissions reduction, technology adoption, and circular economy solutions.

 Our vision is clear- to make India a global leader in sustainable textiles, to achieve this, we must remain innovative, agile, and committed to change. The government will support the industry with policies and initiatives essential to turning this vision into reality. As we look towards the future of our textile industry, I am confident that India will set new global benchmarks, fuelled by our spirit of self-reliance, innovation, and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Together, let us elevate India’s fabric to new heights of sustainability and global leadership, said Mr. Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles, Govt. of India while speaking at 3rd Edition of PHDCCI’s Sustainable textile summit held today at PHD House, New Delhi under the theme of Sustainable solutions for a global textile future.

 He added, India is rising to meet this challenge of sustainability with the Amrit Kaal vision, launching of the technology mission to promote eco-friendly products and the ESG Taskforce to adopt sustainability across the textile value chain. Our 5F formula—from Farm to Fiber to Factory to Fashion to Foreign Market—is paving the way for India’s sustainable growth from fiber to final product. This strategy will definitely position India on the global stage as a leader in sustainable textiles. The government’s integrated approach to sustainability, with initiatives like the National Technical Textiles Mission will further propel the industry towards a more sustainable future.

 The minister further assured that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will achieve its goals of leading the global textile industry in sustainability.

 Mr. Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India discussed that sustainability is not something forced upon us, whether by western legislation or the demands of brands and consumers. Indians have been known for sustainability for ages, and the current trend of downsizing and reusing has long been part of India’s culture and heritage.

 He added that sustainability and circularity are becoming key focuses for the textile and apparel industry. Mr Kansal further discussed three mega trends affecting the global textile industry- first, the estimation that by 2030, global trade for apparel will reach $1.2 trillion. Second, the rise of innovation, digitization, and Industry 4.0, and third is the shift in sourcing patterns.

 He further discussed that textiles contribute 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $500 billion losses from barely recycled clothing. However, he added that by adopting sustainability measures, it’s possible to unlock a $500 billion market and generate significant value.

Speaking further, he gave examples of Indian textile clusters excelling in sustainability, such as the Tirupur knitwear cluster, Panipat cluster where 95% of plastic bottles are recycled, woman-led cluster in Agroha, and the sustainable initiatives of Kasturi cotton.

 He added that 45% of installed capacity for textile production now comes from non-fossil resources. And for this we don’t need external agencies to teach us about sustainability, in fact we just need to look and learn from each other. We are soon to become leaders in electric vehicles (EVs), and similarly, we will lead in textile sustainability, he concluded.

 Dr. Srikanta K Panigrahi, Director General, Indian Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) & Former Secretary, Govt. of India discussed how sustainability has become imperative for everyone, and strategic public policy is moving in that direction. Speaking further he called for a focus on natural fibers to enhance sustainability and urged the industry to explore the commercial viability of these fibers as part of building a Viksit Bharat.

 On the certification system, he discussed the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision to elevate Khadi to global importance, but challenges like technical trade barriers need to be addressed. As per the western norms all textile products require a QR code to indicate the GHG emissions and ecological footprint of each product in line to this a Indian standard needs to be developed, and Mr Panigrahi explained that the Bureau of Indian Standards is working on developing Indian standard of itself to achieve global competitiveness.

 Mr. Madhu Sudhan Bhageria, Chair, PHDCCI Textiles Committee & CMD, Filatex India Ltd discussed that both challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the textile sector. He acknowledged the remarkable contribution of the industry, which upholds India’s culture and serves as a cornerstone for the economy.

 He added that the global textile business is growing at a CAGR of 3%. The rapid expansion of e-commerce, shifting leisure patterns, and increased smartphone usage have also contributed to its growth. He discussed that the objective of this event is to identify focus areas and formulate actionable strategies to address the issues our country and industry are facing. Speaking further on challenges, he highlighted the fragmentation within the industry, financial constraints, and technological hurdles as key concerns.

 Mr. Bagheria further discussed that SMEs need support and prioritizing this sector is essential. At PHDCCI, we have outlined several recommendations, and we hope they will create a positive ripple effect in addressing these challenges, as sustainability is no longer an option it is essential.

 Mr. Salil Bhandari, Former President of PHDCCI & Founder, BGJC Consulting Pvt. Ltd emphasized that PHDCCI is a chamber that takes any issue to the grassroots level. As a chamber, we represent the largest MSME group in India, working at both the state and central levels.

 He added that Sustainability doesn’t just need deliberations, it requires action, and textiles are an essential part of this sustainability journey. It starts with the individual, and personal actions are necessary. Bhandari also spoke about Earth Overshoot Day and urged large industries to collaborate with MSMEs, as these smaller businesses require support. He reiterated the importance of MSMEs for the nation’s growth and encouraged large industries to work in tandem with them.

 Distinguished speakers from the textile industry shared their experiences and perspectives on sustainability. Mr. B M Sharma, Joint Managing Director of RSWM Limited, discussed the company’s sustainability initiatives and the importance of collaboration between industry players. Mr. Anil Jadhav, Regional Director-South Asia & Middle East of Ecocert, highlighted the role of certifications in promoting sustainable practices.

 Further, during the session presentations were made by Mr. B M Sharma, Jt. Managing Director, RSWM Limited; Mr. Anil Jadhav, Regional Director-South Asia & Middle East, Ecocert; and Varun Vaid, Business Director, Wazir Advisors Pvt. Ltd who discussed their respective organizations’ contributions to the sustainability path.

 The summit concluded with a call for action, urging industry stakeholders to embrace sustainability as a core value and work together to create a more sustainable textile future. Recommendations included promoting ethical sourcing, reducing environmental impact, investing in sustainable technologies, and supporting policy reforms.