The systematic recycling of textile waste and the creation of new and better jobs in India – with these ambitious goals, GIZ is launching the “Putting Waste to Work” partnership together with the companies Concordia Textiles and Enviu. India is one of the largest textile producers in the world and one of the largest importers of used clothing. About 90,000 tons of textile waste are not only generated in production every year, old clothes also end up in the garbage at some point. There is still no formal disposal system for this waste in India, resulting in huge amounts of wasted waste and a burden on India’s approximately four million waste workers, whose livelihoods are intermittent and unsustainable.
Cooperation to improve the waste situation and jobs The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) (as part of the develoPPP funding program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ), the textile manufacturer Concordia Textiles and the sustainability-oriented project developer Enviu have joined forces to change this and launched the Putting Waste to Work partnership, which aims to sort around 40,000 tons of textile waste and keep it out of landfill by 2024 and create over 5,000 jobs.
New recycling technology from Purfi Global
In three years, the partners aim to have established a commercial value chain for textile waste management and thus India’s first commercial sorting center for textile waste. This also includes investing in new recycling technologies. The partnership wants to bring the new recycling technology from Purfi Global to India: The company has specialized in the production of virgin quality fibers from textile waste. It uses 99 percent less water, up to 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions and 90 percent less energy than traditional methods of recycling textile waste. Carl Baekelandt, CEO Concordia Textiles and Managing Director Purfi: “We want to support projects that contribute to the goals of sustainability and environmental protection. It is time that the classic textile industry redesigned its value chain in favor of the environment and local communities.”
focus on people
The first collection point has already been set up in Chennai, where teams of women only work and are trained and promoted in such a way that they can also take on management tasks. The sorted waste will then be made available as starting material for brands, manufacturers and other solution providers.
Gigi Mathews, Director of Enviu India: “We believe that building impact-driven companies that prove and show it’s possible is the key to a new normal: a textile industry that serves people and the planet. With Enviu’s Reweave Venture Building program, we examine the obstacles standing in the way of change in the textile value chain and close the gaps. Together with GIZ and Concordia we are filling a big gap. We are unlocking the potential of a circular textile sector: we are using textile waste as a resource and creating a whole new employment sector where fairness and inclusivity are embedded in its DNA. I’ve seen firsthand the impact our circular projects are having on families. They can be proud of their jobs and bring stability to their families.”