Sustainability

Sustainability Beyond Compliance: India’s Textile Industry at a Defining Crossroads
Dr. Ashok Kumar, Sector Expert and former Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, shared his insights on the textile industry’s sustainability quotient as one of the panelists referenced yesterday at Technosummit 2026.

Addressing the gathering on the future of sustainability and the textile sector, the speaker highlighted that the industry today stands at a critical turning point. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral discussion. Thanking the organisers and fellow panelists, the speaker began on a reflective note, reminding students and industry stakeholders that they are among the privileged few who have access to institutions, resources, intelligence, and opportunities that millions across the country do not possess. With such privilege, he noted, comes an equally important responsibility toward society, industry, and the planet.

Dr Ashok Kumar Flags Urgent Need for Textile Sustainability

Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications, interacting today on the sidelines of Technosummit 2026 with Dr Ashok Kumar, Sector Expert and Former Deputy Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, on the textile industry and its sustainability quotient.

“There is a dire need in this industry to impress upon everyone the importance of sustainability, and it is essential that the industry takes this matter with the utmost sincerity. Thank you, Chawla sahib, for giving me the opportunity. I am here at a NIFT event, and many experts are present on this occasion.

As an operating professional, I have been associated with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency since 2011, when the textile industry was brought under a mandatory energy efficiency programme called the PAT scheme.

nova talks - Textile Recycling
The nova-Institut GmbH hosted its second edition of nova talks on May 12, 2026, focusing on textile recycling under the theme “Quo vadis? Just a hype or the next big thing?” The session explored whether current recycling innovations represent a genuine systemic shift toward circularity or risk fading before achieving large-scale impact. 

Event Overview
Organizer: nova-Institut GmbH

Date: May 12, 2026.

Bharat Tex 2026 Mobile App Launch Event – May 20, 2026 

Attended and covered by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications. Excerpts from the address of Bhadresh Dodhia | Co-chairman | Bharat Tex.
One of the defining highlights of this app will be its intelligent matchmaking capability, designed to seamlessly bridge the gap between buyers and suppliers across the textile and fashion value chain. By understanding buyer preferences, sourcing patterns, product interests, and business requirements, the app will automatically identify and connect buyers with the most relevant suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers. This smart integration is expected to significantly reduce search time, improve sourcing efficiency, and create more meaningful business engagements. Beyond simple networking, the platform aims to facilitate targeted trade interactions, accelerate business opportunities, and enhance collaboration within the industry ecosystem. With technology-driven connectivity at its core, the app is envisioned as a dynamic trade-enablement solution that supports faster, smarter, and more productive business relationships.

Bharat Tex 2026 Mobile App Launch Event – May 20, 2026 

Attended and covered by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications. The journey has been truly momentous. When the Honorable Prime Minister last graced us, he inaugurated this platform and placed us firmly on the global stage. His presence inspired buyers and sourcers alike, instilling confidence in India’s export vision. We are striving to nearly double our current production of $180 billion and expand exports almost threefold from today’s $35 billion. With strategic free trade agreements now clinched with the UK and EU, India is poised for an even greater journey—one that Bharat X, from July 14th to 17th, seeks to advance.

It is my pleasure to announce that our permanent exhibition space is already sold out, a clear reflection of exhibitors’ confidence. Despite global disruptions, inquiries continue to pour in from across countries, with embassies actively engaging to meet their expectations.

Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles launches
Bharat Tex 2026 Mobile App

‘Bharat Tex App to enable seamless event navigation, exhibitor discovery, B2B meetings, digital badge, lead capture and AI-powered assistance’

A unified digital companion for textile fraternity at India’s largest global textile event

Bharat Tex 2026 to be held from 14–17 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Webinar on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of regenerative cotton with Dr. Kannan Muthu, CSO at Green Story

The conversation reinforced something important, while regenerative cotton is becoming a major part of sustainability discussions across the textile industry, there is still a strong need for more grounded, data-backed understanding of how these systems are assessed and communicated. 

During the webinar, it explored: 

How regenerative cotton compares with conventional and organic cotton from an LCA perspective. 
Key impact areas including carbon emissions, water use, soil health, and biodiversity.

For kidswear and babywear brands, sustainability claims are really trust claims. Your buyers are the most careful people out there. Concerned parents and retail partners want to know what products are made from, where materials come from, how suppliers are managed, and whether claims around organic cotton, recycled fibers, wool, durability or lower impact can be backed up.

Your challenge is that the evidence often sits across supplier files, certifications, product specs, spreadsheets and one-off assessments.

At Green Story, it helps you bring this into one expert + AI workflow: supplier traceability, material and product data collection, DPPs, impact results and customer-ready sustainability outputs.

India’s Gateway to Global Buyers

Be part of INTERTEX MILANO 2026 on 7–8 July 2026 at the Marriott Hotel Convention & Exhibition Center, Milan — an exclusive platform to showcase your textile innovation to the global fashion and sourcing community.

Held alongside Milano Unica, the exhibition offers direct access to leading international buyers, fashion brands, retailers, and sourcing decision-makers already present in Milan during the prime sourcing season.

 NISTI webinar: New Age Fibres: Future of Sustainable Textiles.

The North India Section of The Textile Institute (NISTI) conducted a webinar on “New Age Fibres: Future of Sustainable Textiles” on 2nd May 2026.

The session was delivered by Mr. Ajay Pandit, Additional Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, who shared valuable insights into emerging sustainable fibres such as banana, kapok, bamboo, hemp, pineapple, nettle, ramie, and more. He also highlighted the growing importance of sustainable textiles, the sector’s projected market potential of USD 350 billion by 2030, and key government initiatives including support through schemes like NTTM. The discussion further covered opportunities and challenges in commercialisation, processing, and testing.

The webinar was coordinated by Prof. Nidhi Gupta, NISTI Patron, and moderated by Prof. Nien Siao, who also conducted the interactive Q&A session.

From August 31 to September 2, 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will once again bring together all international players in textiles and apparel at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center. 
A strategic platform for buyers 
As a global sourcing hub for fashion professionals, the event will offer direct access to nearly 1,200 international textile and apparel companies across two main areas: Texworld, dedicated to fabrics and raw materials, and Apparel Sourcing, focused on finished products and accessories. These two shows stand out for their broad offering, centered on mid-range and premium segments, meeting the growing expectations of buyers seeking quality and added value. They will be complemented by the key Avantex sector, dedicated to innovative solutions for high-performance and responsible fashion.

Webinar: Regenerative Cotton, Beyond the Buzz: An LCA Deep Dive
Event Date: Wed, 6 May, 2026 
Timings: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm (UTC+05:30) Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi (India).
Unpacking how LCAs for regenerative systems are actually built, where the complexity lies, and what often gets missed when brands interpret impact data.

Organiser: GreenStory

Here’s what it will get into:
How regenerative cotton compares to conventional and organic from an LCA standpoint.