In a candid interaction with DFU Publications’ Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Chawla and Director Salil Chawla, Parvinder Singh of AADI Sustainability Solutions shared valuable insights on the evolution of textile waste recycling in India and its connection with global supply chains.

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The Early Days: Imports and Industrial Waste
Recounting the early years, Parvinder noted that textile waste recycling in India began at a time when domestic availability was scarce. “We started importing from Bangladesh because there wasn’t much indication of industrial textile waste in India then,” he explained. Kerala’s Keralik and Bhool wastes were considered valuable, but beyond that, there was little systematic collection or processing.
In the early 2000s, knitted T-shirt cuttings were imported primarily in Trivandrum, while Ludhiana had its own informal practices. Tirupur emerged as an important hub, initiating recycling efforts that gradually grew into a full-fledged industry.

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Rise of Recycling Hubs and Shifting Dynamics
Over the past decade, cities like Tirupur and Panipat have transformed into recycling powerhouses. “We were the biggest importers in India for nearly 8–10 years,” Parvinder revealed, emphasizing that the sector now produces a wide range of yarns—from 4-count to 40-count—primarily catering to the home furnishings segment.
China initially led the way due to its efficiency and machinery, but Indian players steadily caught up. Home furnishing products like carpets, curtains, and bathmats became the primary consumers of recycled yarn, offering flexibility in terms of content labeling and compliance since most items were non-skin contact products.

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Cotton, Polyester, and the Color Challenge
A significant portion of recycled yarns blend 60–70% cotton with synthetics like polyester, producing fabrics that retain a “cotton-rich” feel. However, Parvinder pointed out key challenges:
Printed polyester waste remains difficult to recycle due to chemical decoloration issues.
Regions like Surat, producing massive amounts of printed polyester fabrics, face greater recycling hurdles compared to Jaipur, where cotton-based block prints are easier to process.
With India recycling 30–35 colors regularly, the domestic market today offers diverse material streams but still grapples with issues like color uniformity and processing costs.

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Apparel-Grade Yarns: New Horizons with Limitations
In recent years, recycling units have begun producing apparel-grade yarns in counts like 20, 24, and 30 through open-end spinning. While domestic demand is rising, Parvinder admitted limitations in scaling this segment compared to home furnishings, where compliance norms are less stringent, and demand remains steady.

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Supply Chains, Demand, and Economics
Bangladesh continues to be a major source of textile waste, but domestic collection has improved significantly. “It’s not about cheaper imports,” Parvinder clarified. “Our industry demand is simply larger than domestic supply.”
India lacks large-scale landfill-style waste collection systems seen in Europe. Additionally, the longer lifespan of garments in India, driven by a low-cost economy and culture of reuse, results in smaller volumes of post-consumer waste compared to Western countries.

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Technology, Policy, and the Road Ahead
Technological modernization—high-speed machines, better carding systems, and open-end spinning—has strengthened India’s recycling ecosystem. Government-supported Textile Recycling Facilities (TRFs) in Bengaluru and elsewhere have received funding for waste collection, infrastructure, and employment generation.
However, Parvinder cautioned against complacency: “Some players assume that just because they’ve received funds and infrastructure, they’ve arrived. But sustainable growth needs continuous innovation and efficiency improvements.”

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Conclusion
India’s textile recycling industry has evolved from informal beginnings to a structured ecosystem catering to domestic and global markets. While challenges like polyester recycling, color uniformity, and post-consumer waste collection persist, modernization and policy support are driving the sector forward.
As Parvinder Singh summed it up: “The journey from waste to value is ongoing. Efficiency, technology, and sustainable practices will define the next chapter of textile recycling in India.”

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