Today’s conscious consumers care about the environment and the people behind their clothes. The mighty textile companies, the giants of the Indian economy, were confronted with sustainability issues and forced to change their practices. India, being a global textile powerhouse, refused to profit from conventional textile manufacturing and backed the sustainability revolution. Since then, it has actively pushed sustainable fashion and eco-conscious practices and has taken great steps in promoting sustainable textile certifications. In this article, we are going to see the initiatives, challenges and opportunities and guide to owning sustainable certification.  

Why Sustainable Certifications is Important

A comfy t-shirt drenched in harmful chemicals, dyed with toxic pollutants, and produced under unfair working conditions. That’s the dark side of fast fashion. Sustainable textile certification is like a gold star to your product for following ethical and eco-friendly practices during production. This is very similar to the “organic” label we see in grocery stores giving an added advantage to the product. While buying clothing, these certifications will give us a sense of security and assurance that these clothes are made with fewer harmful chemicals, resulting in less water pollution from dyeing, fairer wages for workers, and a reduced carbon footprint.

The global textile industry is responsible for discharging 20% of global wastewater and certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Oeko-Tex guarantee responsible water management, keeping our rivers clean.

Government Initiatives

Here are some key initiatives the Indian government has implemented.

National Policy on Textiles 2014: This policy laid the roadmap for the government’s vision for a sustainable textile industry. It made sure all textile manufacturers hold sustainable certificates, cleaner production processes, and responsible waste management. This policy was formed aiming to make India a global leader in sustainable textile production by 2030.

Scheme for Capacity Building (SAMARTH): This program empowers textile workers, especially women, in building knowledge and skills in sustainable practices. Over 150,000 beneficiaries have already been trained through SAMARTH fostering a culture of environmental consciousness within the industry.

Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS): This scheme helps small-time manufacturers with financial aid and encourages them to install state-of-the-art machinery so that they can practice sustainability with ease. The World Bank conducted a study that says for every rupee invested in sustainable technology, the textile owners can save up to three rupees on their production cost, isn’t it fascinating?

Focus on Traceability: The government is also pushing for better traceability systems in the textile supply chain. India’s Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS) is a pioneering initiative that uses blockchain technology to achieve traceability so that you can find exactly where your cotton T-shirt comes from.

These are just a fewer government initiatives encouraging the manufacturers to embrace sustainable textiles. A small dot in painting a hopeful picture of a sustainable future.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite these great efforts, there are hurdles to overcome in obtaining the certificates. 

One challenge is accessibility – Acquiring certifications can be a complex process and expensive, especially if you are a smaller manufacturer or a medium-sized enterprise (SMEs). A 2020 survey by Textile Exchange tells us that 73% of Indian textile companies consider cost as a major barrier to certification.  

Another challenge is consumer awareness – A 2022 survey by Assocham tells that only 28% of Indian consumers are familiar with sustainable textile certifications. So, the government started campaigns and educational initiatives can bridge this knowledge gap among manufacturers and also for the consumers to make informed, sustainable clothing choices.

Here are some exciting possibilities that come with the hurdles.

• Sustainability certifications are the entry ticket into this vast textile market and stand out among the other companies.
• By adopting sustainable practices, it justifies premium pricing for its products.
• Certification acts as a badge of honour, a branding strategy for attracting environmentally and socially conscious consumers.
• Many sustainable practices lead to operational benefits. 

A Guide to Obtain Sustainbility Certification

Since the process for obtaining the certifications can be complex, here is a comprehensive guide equipping with to navigate the cluster. 

Step1: Self-Assessment

Evaluate your current production practices by asking the following questions.

Are your raw materials organic cotton? 

Are you using energy and water-efficient technologies and production practices?

Do you use harsh chemicals for finishing treatment?

How responsible and efficient are you in waste management?

Is the work environment safe, and are the employees paid fairly?

Or you can use  Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a free self-assessment tool, to identify and improve the areas, where there is a need for sustainable practices.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Certification

The Indian government recognizes many certifications; each has a purpose and progressive focus on sustainability. Here are a few that might interest you.

• ECOCERT 
• Global Organic Textile Standard(GOTS) 
• OEKO-TEX
• Sustainable Apparel Coalition(SAC) 
• Fairtrade Textile Standard

Step 3: Partnering with a Certification Body

Each certification program has a network of accredited certification bodies. Once you’ve chosen your certification, look for a reputable body with experience in your specific area of textile production.

Step 4: The Certification Process

Once you’ve chosen a certification body, contact them to initiate the process.

• Submitting an application
• On-site audit by the certification body
• Correction action, if any discrepancies are found in the audit.
• Following a successful audit, you will be awarded the certification.

Step 5: Maintaining Your Certification

Acquiring the certificate is just the beginning. The real job is to maintain the certifications, as most require regular audits to know if you are in compliance with the standards. Partner with the certification body to establish a system for monitoring and maintaining your sustainable practices.

Remember, obtaining a sustainable textile certification is an investment in your company’s future. It demonstrates your commitment and contribution to greener environmental and ethical practices in production, in turn opening doors to new markets and attracting conscious consumers. These aren’t just labels on clothes, it is a recognition that connects the consumer and manufacturers. 

Madhusudan Group owns a long list of certifications, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and many more. Invest in fewer, well-made clothes with sustainable certifications like Madhusudan Group.
To partner up with the most credible textile manufacturer in Surat, Contact Madhusudan Group Now!