Business

AEPC Begins Promoting Circularity In Indian RMG Industry

Government ready to help industry with policy support to build a viable ecosystem for sustainable and circular economy: Secretary Textiles The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) organised a brain storming session on ‘Promoting Circularity amongst Indian Garment industry’ at Apparel House, Gurugram. AEPC has partnered with Fashion for Goods, Netherlands, for this initiative. AEPC has started a drive on sustainability and circularity to boost the competitiveness of garment exports globally, thereby making the textiles sector more efficient. U. P. Singh, Secretary, Textiles made a special address during the session. The prominent industry leaders of garment trade and other stakeholders were present in the meeting. This brainstorming session conducted with the support from Fashion for Good, Netherlands, involved all the stakeholders engaged in the garment value chain including Brand Partners (PVH, Adidas, LS&Co, TESCO, Target, Primark), Supply Chain Partners: Arvind, Birla Cellulose and Welspun India), Pre-consumer pilot stakeholders: 20 manufacturers, Technology Innovators: Reverse Resources, Matoha, Picvisa, etc. The Textiles Secretary in his address stated that India has been quick to recycle and reuse textiles, but still the amount of textiles in landfills is disturbing. He announced that the government will support the industry in achieving circularity, through incentives, relevant interventions, standardisation and policies to build a viable ecosystem for a sustainable and circular economy. Making the opening remark, Naren Goenka, Chairman AEPC said, “The major issue which has gained the attention of the global consumers is the landfill contribution made by the textile waste both at pre and post-consumer stage. Approximately, 50% of the fabric is wasted during the manufacturing process and the fast fashion trends leads to 81% of all manufactured garments getting dumped into landfills either due to short life cycle after consumer use or due to excess stock.” With global apparel market size expected to grow from US$ 551.36 billion in 2021 to US$ 605.4 billion in 2022 to US$ 843.13 billion in 2026, at a growth of 8.6% and the Ministry support through government incentives, PLI and PM-MITRA, India is all poised to produce more to cater to rising global demands. India with its core strength on availability of variety of raw material with minimal import dependence leading to short lead times, becomes a preferred manufacturing hub for the major international brands and retailers, Chairman AEPC added. Further, AEPC has focused strategy towards encouraging wider penetration of these measures amongst the MSMEs, hand holding these units with demonstrations and solutions, sustainability awards, branding efforts, etc. Hence, AEPC parallelly needs to take the responsibility of the severe ecological and environmental hazards associated with the garment industry which enhanced domestic manufacturing is expected to bring in. Goenka added that a recent initiative has been taken by AEPC for promoting the concept of circular economy approach. The initiative would assist the Indian garment manufacturers to achieve their circularity goals by addressing problem areas including agricultural waste to textile, chemical recycling of textile, textile waste, alternate leather, regenerative agriculture, wastewater, plastic recycling and traceability in the textile supply chain, Chairman AEPC underlined.