Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is proud to announce launch of the first of its kind - circularity guidelines  for Indian textile and apparel industry at the Sankalp Bharat Summit 2024, Varanasi. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including industry leaders, government officials, and sustainability experts, highlighting the significance of this milestone for the Indian textile apparel sector. This project marks the culmination of a transformative three-year partnership aimed at reshaping the Indian textile sector through circular economy principles, innovation, and a focus on sustainable development.

The guidelines, titled "Stitching the Circle: A Roadmap for Circular Textiles & Apparel in India",is acomprehensive guide designed to assist textile businesses in transitioning from a linear to a circular economy model. It encapsulates several initiatives undertaken during ABFRL and GIZ's collaborative journey, with the shared goal of advancing sustainability,reducing waste, and fostering resource efficiency in the textile value chain.

The partnership between ABFRL and GIZ began with a vision to address the pressing environmental challenges posed by the textile industry. Over the pastthree years,the collaboration has spearheaded a series of impactful initiatives aimed attransforming India's textile sector. These initiativesincludeda comprehensive baseline survey to assess the current state of circularity, the Circularity Innovation Challenge 2023tofostersustainable solutions, and the nationwide training program, "Decoding Circularity Together" to empower stake holders across the textile value chain. ABFRL and GIZ also conducted pilot projects to integrate circular solutions into textile supply chain, documented through a compelling narrative to raise awareness and inspire action.

Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., stated, “Our three-year partnership with GIZ has been a transformative journey that showcases the true power of industry collaboration in achieving a meaningful change. The launch of these circularity guidelines marks a defining moment for us, reflecting our unyielding commitment to collaborate with the fashion industry towards sustainability and to champion the development of a circular textile ecosystem."

Building on this, Dr. Naresh Tyagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., commented, “ABFRL and GIZ have worked together to create circular guidelines and other initiatives that industry players can leverage to work in a holistic manner, benefiting both the environment and society.”

Highlighting GIZ’s perspective, Meghana Kshirsagar, Senior Advisor, Climate Change and Circular Economy at GIZ India, added, “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 initiate and scale circular economy and resource efficiency approaches in the Indian textile industry. In our opinion, combining the strengths of public and private sector partners creates a win-win scenario, delivering both development benefits for local populations and business advantages for private companies.”

The newly launched guidelines present actionable strategies for transitioning from a linear to a circular economy model. It includesthe 6R Approach (Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle, Regenerate), providing a framework forthe textile industry to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency, circularity. Themanifesto also sets Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure circularity in organisation and encouraging alignment with global sustainability certifications.

Through case studies and best practices, the guidelines serve as a practical guide for Indian businesses aiming to integrate circularity intoevery stageofproduction—fromsourcing sustainable materials to engaging consumers in circular practices. The document aimsto inspire the entire value chain,from manufacturers to policy makers, to collectively build a sustainable textile ecosystem in India.

The release of the guidelines at the Sankalp Bharat Summit 2024 marks a pivotal milestone in ABFRL and GIZ's shared journey towards sustainability. The partnership has set a benchmark for the Indian textile sector, showcasing the potential of circular business modelsto reduce environmental impactwhile driving innovation and growth. Moving forward, ABFRL and GIZ are committed to continuing their work in empowering stake holders, expanding pilot projects, and promoting the widespread adoption of circular practices throughout the industry.