Varanasi, December 2, 2024: Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has launched the first-of-its-kind circularity guidelines for the Indian textile and apparel industry at the Sankalp Bharat Summit 2024, Varanasi. This event brought together industry leaders, government officials, and sustainability experts, highlighting the importance of transitioning to a circular economy in the textile sector.
The guidelines, titled "Stitching the Circle: A Roadmap for Circular Textiles & Apparel in India", provide a comprehensive framework for Indian textile businesses to shift from a linear to a circular economy model. This project culminates a transformative three-year partnership between ABFRL and GIZ, dedicated to advancing sustainability, reducing waste, and enhancing resource efficiency across the textile value chain.
The partnership, initiated to address the environmental challenges of the textile industry, has driven several impactful initiatives. These include a baseline survey to assess the state of circularity in the industry, the Circularity Innovation Challenge 2023 to foster sustainable solutions, and the nationwide training program Decoding Circularity Together, empowering stakeholders across the value chain. Pilot projects integrating circular solutions into the textile supply chain were also implemented and documented to inspire further action.
Mr. Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, stated, “Our three-year partnership with GIZ has been a transformative journey that showcases the true power of industry collaboration in achieving a meaningful change. The launch of these circularity guidelines marks a defining moment for us, reflecting our unyielding commitment to collaborate with the fashion industry towards sustainability and to champion the development of a circular textile ecosystem.”
Building on this, Dr. Naresh Tyagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, commented, “ABFRL and GIZ have worked together to create circular guidelines and other initiatives that industry players can leverage to work in a holistic manner, benefiting both the environment and society.”
Highlighting GIZ’s perspective, Ms. Meghana Kshirsagar, Senior Advisor, Climate Change and Circular Economy at GIZ India, added, “As a partner for international cooperation for sustainable development, we are committed to building a future worth living. The cooperation with ABFRL has great potential to initiate and scale circular economy and resource efficiency approaches in the Indian textile industry. In our opinion, combining the strengths of public and private sector partners creates a win-win scenario, delivering both development benefits for local populations and business advantages for private companies.”
The guidelines introduce actionable strategies for transitioning to circular business models, including the 6R Approach—Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle, and Regenerate—designed to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency. It also sets Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure organizational circularity and align with global sustainability certifications.
Through case studies and best practices, the document serves as a practical guide for integrating circularity at every stage of production, from sourcing sustainable materials to engaging consumers in circular practices. It aims to inspire manufacturers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to collectively build a sustainable textile ecosystem in India.
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