Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), launched the first circularity guidelines for India’s textile and apparel industry at the Sankalp Bharat Summit 2024 in Varanasi. This marks the culmination of a three-year partnership aimed at promoting sustainability and circular economy principles in India’s textile sector.
Titled “Stitching the Circle: A Roadmap for Circular Textiles & Apparel in India”, the guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for transitioning from a linear to a circular economy model. The guidelines offer actionable strategies focused on reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, and fostering sustainability throughout the textile value chain.
The partnership between ABFRL and GIZ included several initiatives over the past three years, such as a baseline survey to assess the state of circularity, the Circularity Innovation Challenge 2023 to promote sustainable solutions, and the nationwide training program “Decoding Circularity Together”. Pilot projects were also conducted to test circular solutions within the textile supply chain.
Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director of ABFRL, commented, “Our three-year partnership with GIZ has been a transformative journey that showcases the true power of industry collaboration in achieving meaningful change. The launch of these circularity guidelines marks a defining moment for us, reflecting our unyielding commitment to sustainability.”
Dr. Naresh Tyagi, Chief Sustainability Officer at ABFRL, added, “ABFRL and GIZ have worked together to create circular guidelines and initiatives that industry players can leverage to work in a holistic manner, benefiting both the environment and society.”
Meghana Kshirsagar, Senior Advisor, Climate Change and Circular Economy at GIZ India, stated, “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 scale circular economy and resource efficiency approaches in the Indian textile industry.”
The guidelines introduce the 6R Approach—Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle, and Regenerate—as a framework for enhancing resource efficiency and circularity within the industry. They also set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure circularity and encourage alignment with global sustainability certifications.
Through case studies and best practices, the guidelines provide a practical roadmap for Indian businesses to integrate circularity at every stage of production, from sourcing sustainable materials to engaging consumers in circular practices. The document aims to inspire stakeholders across the value chain to contribute to building a sustainable textile ecosystem in India.
The release of the guidelines at the Sankalp Bharat Summit 2024 marks a significant step forward in ABFRL and GIZ’s shared efforts to promote sustainability within the Indian textile industry. The partnership aims to continue expanding pilot projects, empowering stakeholders, and driving the adoption of circular practices across the sector.
