Mission Sustainable Bharat-2047: Data as the New Thread: Weaving India's Textile Sector into a Circular Powerhouse
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India's textile sector, blending tradition with transformation, relies on data as the vital thread linking sustainability goals to market demands. The four-year UNEP InTex India project, funded by Denmark, drives this shift toward circularity. Transparent, traceable data is now essential for global market survival. The Home Textile Exporters' Welfare Association (HEWA) commits to coordinating with all industry associations for UNEP's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology rollout. This cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tracks a textile product's environmental impact from raw material procurement to disposal, aligning with Viksit Bharat-2047.
The New Data Imperative
Global regulations are reshaping textiles. The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passport (DPP) demand detailed data on environmental footprints, material composition, supply chains, and end-of-life options for European market entry. India's $37.7 billion textile and apparel exports in 2024 face this as both a hurdle and an opportunity. PEF aids SMEs in clusters like Surat and Karur by requiring lifecycle data on extraction, manufacturing, transport, use, and disposal.
Associations such as the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), and Tiruppur Exporters' Association guide members on compliance. SMEs, the sector's backbone, struggle most due to limited resources.
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SME Challenges and Responses
In clusters like Surat, Karur, Salem, Dindigul, and Perundurai, SMEs grapple with financial barriers to data systems, PEF knowledge gaps, multi-tier supply chains, and poor digital infrastructure. AEPC offers sustainability reporting training, while the Knitwear and Textile Manufacturers Association of Tamil Nadu (KTMEA) fosters peer-learning networks.
At the 12th India Sustainability Standards (ISS) International Dialogue and Conference in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (November 12-14, 2025), HEWA President Anant Srivastava urged big brands to share PEF implementation success stories for MSMEs.
Brand and Supply Chain Transformations
Leading brands deploy blockchain or cloud traceability from fibre to finish, creating immutable records. They support suppliers via technical aid, co-funded software, shared platforms, and dedicated teams. Brands link transparency to benefits like long-term contracts.
For Tier 2/3 suppliers (yarn, fabric, dyes)—major impact sources—cluster training builds peer pressure. Vernacular mobile apps with simple inputs (e.g., energy/water bills) generate metrics. Associations enable aggregated cluster reporting.
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Stakeholder Roles and Immediate Actions
The transition demands unprecedented collaboration. The government must develop enabling policies and invest in cluster infrastructure. Industry associations convert policy into practical guidance. Brands must become genuine partners in supplier development, while technology providers design affordable systems. Financial institutions can link financing terms to environmental performance data.
Start with easy metrics like energy/water use; pilot early adopters; repurpose existing data via workshops; build shared cluster infrastructure; offer local-language videos/guidelines; show benefits like efficiency gains.
The Path Forward
Data positions India's textiles for circularity, competitiveness, and access. With patience, investment, and support for SMEs and deep suppliers, this secures 45 million workers' futures, weaving heritage into a sustainable Bharat-2047.