Textile industry…slowly gaining the momentum back with the new normal

 

Green Strategies and policies developed in the last decade for stimulating sustainable development, initiated the tradition in the textile industry to show social responsibility and to protect the environment. Ultimately, it gave a solid foundation to the evaluation of the sustainability performance of different industries. But the year 2020 was a performance jammer. It was like agonizing trouble with no way to conquer.

Was it the outcome of our toxic habits and preferences that have severely dented the ecological harmony? How can it happen? We are making green spaces, promoting the green, then why is nature still furious? The reason is our green initiatives are limited to crafting green spaces; to empower the green we should nurture green perception. It shouldn’t be limited to any special occasion or scenario. It should be in our natural perception.

The textile industry is one of the most influential industrial sectors that play a vital role by contributing well to exports, employment generation, and the national economy. The textile sector contributes 42% of the worth of the global textile industry.

The pandemic of 2020 suppressed the demand in the global textile industry. Economic and societal shutdowns asked tough questions from the industry. As per the SUSTAINABLE APPAREL COALITION members’ Survey, ⅓ of the decision-makers within manufacturers, retailers, and fashion brands felt unprepared for the pandemic. Every night ends with the emergence of a ray similarly new trends will overshadow the suppression and nurture the future of the textile industry.

How to conquer backsliding on growth and look ahead after the pandemic

Actionable guidance for sustainable initiatives is essential and business decision-makers should pay attention to it.

Safeguarding critical assets to conquer the economic crisis means you need to make sure to protect the value chain partnerships, capital, employees, workers, and the support and trust of customers.

It is an opportune time to discard needless costs and complexity and to get ready for the reinvestment.

In the year 2015, members of the United Nations embraced the agenda for 2030 for sustainable development, which comprised 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for different industries. 5 of 17 such goals were followed by the textile industry which was associated to-

• Climate Action
• Recent economic and work progress
• Clean water and sanitation
• Sustainable production and consumption
• Gender equality

Sustainability has become more imperative, and it should be reflecting in the decision-making after the pandemic. Though, some will still consider sustainability as an action to continue once convenient.

If you wish to conquer the backsliding on growth, sustainability should be the base for every decision making.

Challenges to establishing sustainability in the textile industry

Across the whole of Europe, approx 15000 chemical substances are used for textile finishing. Another grey side of them is they require a vast amount of water. Natural dyes came into existence to overcome these drawbacks. Usage of natural dyes has reduced the quantity of chemically corrupted wastewater along with decreasing the need for freshwater.

AMA initiated the change by bringing natural dyes into the mainstream in the textile industry and inspired others to prefer natural dyes as their first preference for dyeing.

But there are many more challenges waiting in front. Shockingly, around 61% of clothing in the fashion industry is of toxic polyester. As per the World Bank, textile processing contributes to 20% of global water pollution.

Sustainable choices and initiatives can overcome these challenges. So, the responsibility is not restricted to preferring sustainable dyeing solutions but to create and inspire the production of sustainable fabrics as well.

 

Was nature rectifying our mistakes?

The year 2020 was the ‘cheer year’ for nature and climate. The world became able to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Nature taught us to build a safer society that cherishes people and nature. What will be required to transition in the textile industry renowned for being the world’s second-largest pollution emerging industry? The answer is simple; sustainable solutions should get the preference from the decision-makers.

The industry is gradually establishing harmony with the new normal

It is never easy to embrace the change, especially when you need to move ahead along with following the newly established rules for personal, social, and environmental safety. But, the textile industry is all set to embrace the change. It is not just limited to giving preference to sustainability in industrial operations but in perception as well.

The textile industry faced a vicious time in 2020, where lockdown compelled the industry to restrict its proceedings. It was a battle with an invisible opponent where we had the only choice to protect ourselves through good hygiene and safety measures.

Migrant workers are gradually coming back to work along with following the safety measures and social distancing. No one would have thought of such a scenario, but nature has its distinct ways of teaching us the right. There is a change in methodologies where we are surrounded by masks and sanitizers while working. It is the need to match the rhythm with the new normal.

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