11-06-2025
Sustainability programmes to be implemented in Karur textile cluster
Select exporting companies producing home textile products in Karur will be part of a three-year sustainability programme implemented by the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB).
Devyani Hari, Senior Director (Programmes) at the CRB, told The Hindu that it is implementing Life Cycle Assessment programme (InTex India) and Eco Innovation programme, funded by the Kingdom of Denmark, as a part of the UN Environment Programme. Karur and Surat apparel clusters have been identified for the Life Cycle Assessment programme and the beneficiaries in Karur will be finalised within a couple of months.
The programme, which will run till September 2027, targets small and medium-scale businesses to equip with knowledge and capability to identify environmental hotspots in the life cycle of a product and document the details.
The CRB will also work with the Union Ministry of Textiles, form cluster coordination committees, and share inputs for policy formations, she said.
According to a press release, at a workshop on 'Advancing Sustainability & Circularity in Karur Textile Cluster', organised recently in Karur by the Karur Textile Manufacturer Exporters Association (KTMEA) along with Karur Handloom Export Cloth Manufacturers Association (KHEXMASS), CII, Karur Knitting and Weaving Factory Owners Association and Karur Dyers & Bleachers Association and the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) and Intellecap, more than 100 textile manufacturers and exporters participated.
The aim is to promote sustainability and circularity among the textile and apparel industry in Karur, said a press release.
P. Gopalakrishnan, president of KTMEA, emphasised the need for sustainable growth, to stay updated with the latest international and national developments and to showcase the strength and the potential of the Karur cluster.
The release added that the InTex India programme will provide hands-on support for Life Cycle Assessment to atleast 15 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and develop a knowledge sharing mechanism to facilitate exchange of knowledge, experiences and success stories across different textile and apparel clusters the country.
Under the EU Switch Asia - SME Decarbonization, Intellecap, through its Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) initiative, will empower SMEs with knowledge, tools, resources and financing to align with global sustainability standards, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in global supply chains. This 42-month initiative focuses on reducing the environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions of 250-400 SMEs across key clusters in India's textile and apparel value chain, including Karur, said a press release.
