Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), has partnered with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), to announce the launch of circularity guidelines for the Indian textile and apparel industry at the Sankalp Bharat Summit 2024, Varanasi.
The guideline, Stitching the Circle: A Roadmap for Circular Textiles & Apparel in India, supports businesses in shifting from a linear to a circular economy model. It incorporates the 6R approach – Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Recycle, Regenerate and Remanufacture, to promote sustainable practices in the textile industry.
ABFRL and GIZ at first came together to tackle the environmental challenges of the textile industry, with key initiatives including a baseline survey on circularity, the Circularity Innovation Challenge 2023 to promote sustainable solutions and the “Decoding Circularity Together” training programme to engage stakeholders across the textile value chain. Additionally, ABFRL and GIZ have launched pilot projects to integrate circular practices within the supply chain, documenting these efforts to raise awareness and drive broader industry action.
The guidelines, featuring case studies and best practices, offer a practical roadmap for Indian businesses looking to integrate circularity at every production stage, from sourcing sustainable materials to involving consumers in circular practices. The aim is to inspire the entire value chain, from manufacturers to policymakers, to collaborate in creating a sustainable textile ecosystem in India.
