New Delhi, Mar 10 (KNN) Initiatives like PM-MITRA would enable embedding sustainability in the value chain and would make the industry future ready giving it a competitive edge globally, said Shubhra, Trade Advisor at Ministry of Textiles.

She talked about India’s policy, its sustainability targets and ambitions related to Indian textile industry and sustainability at a webinar on ‘India-France: Market Opportunities and Areas of Cooperation for a Sustainable Textile and Fashion’ organised by Embassy of India, Paris in collaboration with Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

The opening remarks were given by Dr Praphullachandra Sharma, DCM, Embassy of India, Paris.

Speaking on the current status and outlook for Indian apparel exporters, AEPC Chairman Narendra Goenka said, “Indian apparel industry is very well aware of the alarming fact that without sustainable supply chains, the fashion industry will become less and less viable. Sustainability is now counted as one of the major pillars of apparel export business and a growth tool.

“India offers to the world a complete value chain solution from farm to fashion giving us a competitive edge towards efficient implementation and monitoring of the sustainability throughout the supply chain through triple bottom line (TBL) approach involving three pillars of sustainability that are economic, social, and environmental,” he added.

The webinar covered various subjects from environment sustainability like water usage, energy consumption, chemical loads, air emission, carbon emission, solid waste, and landfill, to circularity and social sustainability such as inclusivity, skilling, labour reforms and women empowerment. Importance of blockchain and traceability was also discussed.

The key speakers were from LVMH, Fashion Green Hub, Decathlon, Jamini and Intellecap. (KNN Bureau)