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Unveiling India's Textile Waste Landscape

UPCOMING
2023
PROJECT LINK
IDH, Sattva Consulting

Textile Waste Quantities

*All data is in tonnes per annum
Post Consumer
Textile Waste
Post Industrial
Textile Waste
Imported
Textile Waste
Exported post
consumer textiles
Total Textile Waste
*More information will be added at a later date. Sign up for updates
Textile Waste compositions
*All data is in tonnes per annum
Post consumer textile waste
No items found.
POST Industrial Textile Waste
7,793,000
No items found.
IMPORTED Textile Waste
No items found.
Data Methodology

The study analyzed unit costs of three scenarios:

  1. Textile waste is sourced in India and processed outside India;
  2. Textile waste is sourced and processed in India;
  3. Textile waste is sourced from outside India, might be processed in or outside India.

Primary and secondary research was conducted across two months to understand the costs involved at each stage of the textile waste value chain. A total of 20 stakeholders across different stages of the value chain were interviewed to get varied perspectives and information on costs in the value chain. Six key areas of enquiry were studied through the primary interactions--Quality and quantity of textile waste handled, Cost of procuring and processing the waste, Fixed investments (cost of setting up the units), Selling price points of the products, Challenges and process inefficiencies, and Support needed from government and brands.

In terms of geographical representation, the study covered respondents from major textile-producing hubs including importing sites in India.

Upcoming & Notes

This study aimed to identify the costs incurred and challenges faced in the textile waste value chain in India while elaborating on potential opportunities that can be taken up to uplift all stakeholders in the sector. Across the different scenarios, the availability of desired quality and quantity of textile waste resonated as the most common challenge faced by stakeholders. Formalisation of the sector also emerged as a need of the hour for the sector as a whole. Based on responses received from actors within the industry, five opportunities have been identified which will enable textile waste businesses to grow sustainably through operational scaling, allowing them to operate on par with the global textile industry.

  1. The ecosystem has the opportunity to build consensus on waste value potential (use-case) and responsibility sharing. This can further help to unlock the value potential of a significant quantity of textile waste.
  2. Building transparency & traceability in the value chain can solve the waste feedstock challenges being faced by the industry.
  3. The Indian textile waste value chain provides a significant opportunity for fostering innovation & technology, especially for waste recycling, that can lead to beneficial returns on all economic, social and environmental fronts.
  4. Improving efficiencies of waste handlers through capacity building, technological interventions and other pathways can improve the overall effectiveness of the textile waste value chain in India.
  5. Fostering an enabling environment through open knowledge sharing among stakeholders can pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient textile waste value chain.
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