On September 10, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched a significant sustainability initiative known as Improving Transparency for Sustainable Business (ITSB). This initiative aims to equip textile and apparel companies in India with the necessary tools to meet global standards related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, along with fulfilling buyer expectations. This sustainability initiative for Indian textiles is set to transform how companies operate and compete in the global market.
During the launch, Gelkha Buitrago, Director of Sector Standards at GRI, also presented the Draft Sector Standards for the Textile and Apparel Sector, as noted in the CITI release.
A panel discussion on sustainability accompanied the launch, featuring key industry figures such as K M Subramanian, President of the Tiruppur Exporters Association; K Sakthivel, Chairman of the Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL); Animesh Saxena, General Secretary of the Garments Exporters & Manufacturers Association (GEMA); and Rajneesh Rai, Associate Vice President of Shahi Exports. The discussion emphasized that a strong focus on sustainability could provide businesses with a competitive advantage.
“The ITSB initiative will help in future-proofing India’s textile and apparel sector, open new avenues for growth, and help India’s textile and apparel companies be seen as responsible and sustainable manufacturers and exporters,” stated Ashwin Chandran, Deputy Chairman of CITI.
In welcoming the ITSB initiative, K M Subramanian mentioned that Tiruppur aims to evolve into a “Net Zero” cluster by 2030. India, in parallel, has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
Supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the ITSB initiative is designed to enhance sustainability practices and increase transparency throughout the nation’s textile and apparel industry. By focusing on this sustainability initiative for Indian textiles, the sector will not only align with global standards but also promote ethical production practices.
Importantly, the ITSB will act as a crucial driver for inclusive growth, enabling small businesses to transition to sustainable models without being overlooked. With the textile and apparel sector accounting for nearly 2 percent of India’s GDP, many of the companies within this industry are categorized as MSMEs.
The ITSB will function as a dynamic multi-stakeholder platform in India, engaging businesses, industry associations, worker organizations, regulators, investors, and data users. The initiative aims to build capabilities for effective reporting on critical environmental and social issues, such as climate change, circularity, waste management, diversity and inclusion, and biodiversity. It will also enhance transparency surrounding employment practices, health and safety standards, and the economic and tax-related impacts of the industry. This positions India to effectively showcase its accomplishments on the global stage while sharing valuable insights with the international community.
The ITSB initiative will deliver concrete benefits to a broad range of stakeholders. Organizations focused on reporting will receive tools, training, and frameworks to enhance their ESG disclosures and align with global buyer demands. Industry associations will strengthen collective action, facilitate knowledge sharing, and advocate for enhanced sustainability practices.
Investors will gain access to more consistent and credible ESG data, supporting responsible decision-making, while worker associations will benefit from improved transparency concerning employment practices, health and safety protocols, and inclusion efforts, leading to stronger dialogue and accountability measures. Additionally, regulators and policymakers will have standardized sustainability data at their disposal to inform evidence-based policy development and governance.
As part of its India-specific execution, GRI and CITI will concentrate their efforts on selected textile clusters, promoting localized engagement and capacity building. By establishing the initiative in these centers of innovation and production, the ITSB aims to spark a movement that transforms sustainability and transparency into not just compliance necessities, but also strategic advantages for India’s textile and apparel sector in the global marketplace.
