WTC Mumbai Marks World Environment Day

Mumbai’s Mega Post-Consumer Textile Waste Collection and Upcycling Initiative was launched to promote circularity in India’s textile sector by bringing together government officials, industry leaders, sustainability experts, development organizations and civil society representatives.

The programme received a special video message from Shri Sanjay Savkare, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, who extended his best wishes and underscored the importance of collaborative action to address environmental challenges while creating sustainable livelihoods.

Welcoming the gathering, Mr. Manoj Wanvari, COO, ReFiber and OterRi, said, “This initiative is more than the launch of a campaign. It marks the beginning of a collective movement towards a circular future for our city and our country. Sustainability is no longer a choice but an absolute necessity. The future of textiles is not linear, the future of textiles is circular.”

Delivering the keynote address, Ms. Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner, Government of Maharashtra, highlighted the scale of the opportunity before India. She noted that the country generates nearly 70 lakh tonnes of textile waste annually, with over 70 percent being recovered and recycled. “We must create a win-win-win model where ecology, sociology and the economy benefit together. Textile waste should be viewed not as a disposal challenge but as a valuable resource that can create employment, drive innovation and support sustainable growth,” she said.

Mr. Santosh Kataria, Chairman, Sustainability Committee, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), emphasized the social dimension of circularity. “We must move from a use-and-discard economy to a circular economy. The true success of this initiative will not be measured by the volume of waste collected, but by the number of livelihoods created and communities empowered through upcycling and sustainable enterprise,” he remarked.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai, observed, “Around 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated globally every year, yet only a small fraction is effectively reused. The challenge before us is to transform waste into wealth through innovation, fibre regeneration, recycling technologies and collaborative action among industry, government and civil society.”

Dr. Pankaj Kumar, National Project Coordinator, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), stressed the need to integrate sustainability into industrial development. “Circular economy is no longer an environmental concept alone; it is becoming a key economic strategy. Green jobs, green energy, responsible production and gender inclusion must be central to building a sustainable future,” he said.

The programme featured insightful panel discussions and a fireside chat on building a zero-waste textile future. Discussions focused on technology-driven solutions for post-consumer textile waste, including circular fibres, renewable energy, traceability, MSME-led recycling models, upcycling hubs, efficient sorting systems and the role of innovation in reducing landfill burden. Speakers also highlighted the need for city-level recycling systems, consumer awareness, responsible manufacturing, artisan-led upcycling and stronger collaboration between government, industry and communities. The sessions further explored ways to accelerate circularity in India’s textile sector by integrating waste into value chains, promoting reuse and repair, designing products for recyclability, leveraging artificial intelligence to reduce sampling waste and educating young consumers on sustainability.

The event concluded with a call for collective action among government, industry, consumers and civil society to accelerate India’s transition towards a circular textile economy. Participants emphasized that textile waste must be viewed not as a burden, but as a resource capable of creating green jobs, strengthening livelihoods, empowering communities, supporting responsible production and building a more sustainable future.