Sustainable Textiles are gaining stronger policy support in India as the government introduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets for carbon-intensive sectors, including the textile industry, under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). Under this framework, obligated entities are required to disclose their Scope-1 and Scope-2 emissions, promoting greater transparency and climate accountability across the sector. In addition, a pilot initiative is currently being implemented to provide technical assistance and capacity building for SMEs, brands, and manufacturers, focusing on lifecycle assessment and Product Environmental Footprint to encourage more sustainable production practices in the textile value chain.
The Government, vide S.O. 108(E) dated 30.01.1990, has restricted the use of benzidine-based dyes and their salts in the dyeing and colour processing industries. Further, through a Notification dated 26.03.1997, the handling of 70 Azodyes was also prohibited. Additionally, on 13.01.2006, India ratified the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
The Government has also notified “Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from various Industries”, including the textile sector, under Schedule-I of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 to promote Sustainable Textiles. As per these provisions, textile industries and clusters are required to install and operate Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) or Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) to ensure that effluent discharge meets the prescribed environmental standards.
Moreover, the Government has notified the Eco-Mark Scheme, 2024 to promote Sustainable Textiles, which includes textiles as one of the identified product categories. Under this scheme, eco-labelling is intended to encourage environmentally sustainable production practices, use of environmentally benign raw materials, reduced use of hazardous chemicals, resource efficiency, wastewater and emissions management, and compliance with applicable environmental standards across the textile sector.
Hon’ble Finance Minister, in her budget speech 2026-27, announced an Integrated Programme for textiles, which may be applicable across India. This programme includes a National Fibre Scheme for self-reliance in natural fibres, man-made fibres, and new-age fibres, a Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme to modernise traditional clusters with capital support for machinery, technology upgradation and common testing and certification centres, National Handloom and Handicraft programme to ensure targeted support for weavers and artisans, Tex-Eco Initiative to promote globally competitive and sustainable textiles and apparels; and Samarth 2.0 to modernize and upgrade the textile skilling ecosystem through collaboration with industry and academic institutions. Additionally, during FYs 2021–22 to 2025–26, financial assistance of ₹548.09 lakh has been provided for 06 Small Cluster Development Programmes (SCDP) covering 979 beneficiaries in Himachal Pradesh. SCDP, a component of the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), provides need-based financial assistance for interventions such as upgraded looms and accessories, construction of worksheds, solar lighting units, and product and design development across the country, including Himachal Pradesh.
As part of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), 17 R&D projects are being undertaken with focus on promotion of natural and/or bio fibres specially for agro- and geo-textiles with the objective of enabling partial substitution of synthetic fibre-based materials over a period of time.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER FOR TEXTILES GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
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