- India’s textile sector employs 45 million people, contributes 2.3% to GDP, and makes up 12% of exports. However, it generates 7,800 kilotonnes of waste annually, consumes large volumes of water, and is a significant polluter. Sustainability is crucial to meet global standards and India’s net-zero 2070 goal.
Key Status of Textile Waste
- High Waste Output: Contributes 8.5% of global textile waste; 3rd largest in dry municipal solid waste.
- Low Recycling: Only 34% reused, mostly informally; 25% recycled. Rest is incinerated, downcycled, or landfilled.
- MMFs and Pollution: India is the 2nd largest Man-Made Fibres (MMF) producer (mainly polyester & viscose – 94%). These are non-biodegradable and release microplastics during the washing process.
Factors Responsible for Soaring Textile Waste
- Lack of Standardisation: No national mechanism to quantify or classify textile waste systematically.
- Resource Inefficiency: Low recovery, a large share fails to re-enter the textile production cycle.
- Unorganised Chain: Fragmented recycling infrastructure, informal waste sector (~4 million informal workers involved in textile waste handling, lacking formal training, safety nets), low technology uptake.
- Landfill Overload: Most textile waste is dumped in landfills, releasing methane (a potent GHG) and toxic leachate, contaminating soil & groundwater.
- E.g., Noyyal river (Tamil Nadu) polluted due to untreated textile effluents from Tirupur. Bandi River (Rajasthan) polluted by textile units in Pali, Rajasthan.
- Technological Challenges: Blended fibres (cotton + polyester) are hard to recycle due to differing properties. E.g., Only 25% of textile waste recycled, mostly into low-grade yarns.
Steps Taken Towards Sustainability
- Government Initiatives: Government e-Marketplace–SCOPE MoU promotes the use of recycled textiles in government procurement.
- Private Sector Responses: Brands like H&M and Zara follow “vertical sustainability” — integrating eco-friendly practices in sourcing, production, and design.
- Several brands now mandate 20–30% sustainable fabric use in their collections to meet ESG goals.
- Research Innovations: NITRA–NBRI collaboration developed milkweed-based fibre, a biodegradable alternative to synthetic fabrics.
- Spinnova (Finland) produces fabric from wood pulp and textile waste using a chemical-free process, showcasing circular textile innovation.
Sustainability Challenges in India’s Textile Industry
- High Waste Generation: India produces 7,800 kilotonnes of textile waste yearly, contributing 8.5% of global waste and ranking third in dry municipal solid waste.
- Low Recycling and Circularity: Only 34% of textile waste is reused and 25% recycled, with most ending up incinerated, downcycled, or landfilled.
- Water-Intensive Production: Textile units consume 1.6 million litres of water per tonne, leading to pollution and groundwater depletion in dyeing clusters.
- Chemical Pollution: Toxic dyes and chemicals degrade soil and water, with poor compliance to Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) norms.
- Synthetic Fibre Dependence: India, the 2nd-largest MMF producer, uses 94% polyester and viscose, which are non-biodegradable and release microplastics.
Way Forward
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Make brands accountable for the entire lifecycle of textiles from eco-friendly design to end-of-life disposal.
- Waste Infrastructure & Technology: Set up urban textile recovery centres and invest in modern technologies like RFID tagging & automated sorting to improve efficiency & reduce landfill dependency.
- Formalise Informal Sector: Integrate ~4 million informal waste workers through PPP models, offering them social security and training to professionalise recycling and improve last-mile implementation.
- E.g., Swachh Pune model integrates waste pickers into formal systems via cooperatives.
- Promote Sustainable Habits: Advance LiFE mission to encourage thrift, reuse, and conscious consumption & run campaigns to popularise second-hand markets & responsible textile disposal.
India’s textile sector must urgently adopt sustainable practices to address rising waste, pollution, and meet global green standards. Aligning with government goals like net-zero by 2070, PM MITRA, and National Technical Textiles Mission will enhance competitiveness and resilience. As PM stated, “We must make India a global hub for sustainable and eco-friendly textiles.”
Reference: The Hindu
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 249
Q. India’s textile industry must transition towards sustainable manufacturing practices to remain globally competitive. Examine the key environmental challenges faced by the sector and suggest measures to promote eco-friendly and inclusive textile growth. (150 Words) (10 Marks)
Approach
- Introduction: Write briefly about the textile sector and mention current data.
- Body: Write key environmental challenges faced by the textile sector and suggest measures to promote eco-friendly and inclusive textile growth.
- Conclusion: Highlights the importance of eco-friendly textiles through sustainable practices aligned with net-zero 2070, PM MITRA, and circular economy goals.
