Integrating sustainability into the future of India’s textile industry via a circular economy.

Sustainability is becoming a crucial growth factor for India's textile and apparel sector as the nation speeds up its shift towards a circular economy via policy backing, cleaner production methods, waste recovery, and responsible sourcing. The industry accounts for almost 2% of India's GDP and approximately 11% of the Gross Value Added (GVA) in manufacturing, while directly employing over 45 million individuals. India ranks as the sixth-largest exporter of textiles and apparel globally, representing approximately 4% of total worldwide exports. The nation presently handles almost 7.8 million tonnes of textile waste each year, with more than 70% reclaimed via recycling, upcycling, downcycling, and reuse, and around 95% of pre-consumer textile waste is reintegrated into manufacturing. The textile waste recovery system provides livelihoods for approximately 40-45 lakh individuals, especially women from disadvantaged groups, highlighting the sector's role in promoting inclusive and sustainable development. The Government is enhancing sustainable textile production via initiatives like the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), Jute-ICARE, the New Age Fibre Mission, and the National Fibre Scheme, while incorporating green infrastructure into the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks. Seven PM MITRA Parks have received approval with a total expenditure of Rs. 4,445 crore (US$ 464.34 million), with agreements related to possible investments surpassing Rs. By December 2025, agreements worth ₹27,434 crore (US$ 3.10 billion) had been finalized. The Government is promoting green technologies via the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme, executing the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, enhancing textile recycling, and launching eco-labelling under the Eco-Mark Scheme, 2024.