The Textile and Fashion sector globally has gained momentum towards sustainable production practices quite significantly in the past few years.

Manufacturers driven by Brand and Retailer commitments and regulatory frameworks towards sustainability targets were required to start their sustainability journey based on compliance requirements, but many came along setting their targets and goals to contribute towards SDGs and Decarbonization goals towards Net Zero, which is an encouraging development.
Despite these efforts, there is one thing I still experience missing and that is “Closing the Manufacturing Loop.” Our textile manufacturing supply chains are still working with the Linear Economy Model based on the “Take–Make–Use–Dispose” concept, where resources are extracted from nature and the economic cycle to make products that eventually end up as waste!

Closing the loop of the materials life cycle through circular innovations is still in nascent stages and ‘calls for close industry collaboration and partnerships to implement the three E’s. The three E’s say “Engaging” with the supply chain partners to implement “Effective” Circularity approaches that bring “Efficiency” in the material value chain at Integrating Corporate Sustainability.
Last week I got an opportunity to be a trainer on this important concept of Circularity to the members of The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India (CMAI) and supply chain members of big Indian retailers, where Centre for Environment Education, CEE was an implementation partner and convened the capacity building trainings.

Two days of intense brainstorming with Sustainability Managers, Quality, Compliance, and Production heads, led me to conclude:
1 🖋 The concept of Circularity is the finest approach to bringing sustainability by keeping materials in the ecosystem for a longer time, hence eliminating waste.

2 🖋 Circularity approaches are gaining momentum however, scalability requires industry collaboration, partnerships, joint stakeholder consultations, economic boosts, and development sector involvement.

3 🖊 The 6Rs strategy – requires brainstorming at each step of the manufacturing process for small to large-scale innovation.

4 🖌 The goal for the industry should be to Reduce production, Reuse and Recycle the materials in flow, promote Remanufacturing, Renting and Repair approaches for new circular business models, and prioritize the regeneration of our soil and natural resources via renewable technologies.

Check out the post on Closing the loop of the materials life cycle through circular innovations is still in nascent stages and calls for close industry collaboration and partnerships to implement the three E’s:
🔸”Engaging” with the supply chain partners to implement
🔹“Effective” Circularity approaches that bring
🔸“Efficiency” in the material value chain. Click Here.