Over 50 innovators
engaged
Understanding Circular Economy
Introductory concepts, benefits over the linear model and real-world relevance to India's textile context.
“Our three-year partnership with GIZ has been a transformative journey that showcases the true power of industry collaboration in achieving a meaningful change. The launch of these circularity guidelines marks a defining moment for us, reflecting our unyielding commitment to collaborate with the fashion industry towards sustainability and to champion the development of a circular textile ecosystem.”
Mr. Ashish Dikshit,
“ABFRL and GIZ have worked together to create circular guidelines and other initiatives that industry players can leverage to work in a holistic manner, benefiting both the environment and society.”
Dr. Naresh Tyagi,
"As a partner for international cooperation for sustainable development, we are committed to building a future worth living. The cooperation with ABFRL has great potential to initiate and scale circular economy and resource efficiency approaches in the Indian textile industry. In our opinion,combining the strengths of public and private sector partners creates a win-win scenario, delivering both development benefits for local populations and business advantages for private companies."
Ms. Meghana Kshirsagar,
Want to know how we're leading a sustainability revolution in India's textile industry?
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The partnership between Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) represents a bold step towards reshaping India's textile sector. With a shared vision to reduce waste and promote resource efficiency, ABFRL and GIZ are working together to implement circular economy principles at scale. This collaboration is supported by the develoPPP program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Know more about GIZ →
To foster innovation, transform practices and inspire a sustainable future for the textile industry.
To drive circular transformation across the textile value chain by enhancing knowledge, skills and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and sustainable business models.
To foster innovation, transform practices and inspire a sustainable future for the textile industry.
To drive circular transformation across the textile value chain by enhancing knowledge, skills and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and sustainable business models.
A shared vision crafted by an industry working group to build a circular textile economy in India aligned with global sustainability goals and tailored to the local context.
Read the Manifesto →In partnership with GIZ, CEE and Leverist, ABFRL launched the Circularity Innovation Challenge in 2023 to identify and implement sustainable solutions within the textile value chain. Innovators from across India were invited to participate in this challenge and co‑create pilot projects that will directly impact ABFRL’s supply chain.
Over 50 innovators
engaged
Successful pilot projects
implemented
Milestones in circularity
innovation
Over 50 innovators
engaged
Successful pilot projects
implemented
Milestones in circularity
innovation
The transition to a circular economy needs more than ideas—it needs knowledge, skills, and shared action. That’s why ABFRL and GIZ created a dedicated Circularity Capacity Building Module, designed to empower India’s textile industry with the tools and know-how to drive sustainable change.
Introductory concepts, benefits over the linear model and real-world relevance to India's textile context.
Roadmaps for integrating circular practices across raw material sourcing, production, and waste management.
Strategies to engage consumers via resale, repair, transparent labeling, and circular business models.
A robust framework to assess impact across fibre sourcing, water usage, chemical safety and more.
Insight into key circularity certification (GOTS, OEKO-TEX, C2C, GRS) and transition toolkits.
From cradle-to-cradle designs to waste-to-resource pilots real success stories from the ground up.
How circularity boosts jobs, innovation and India’s global competitiveness while aligning with the SDGs.
The 6R Strategy (Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle, Regenerate) is the backbone of ABFRL and GIZ’s sustainable efforts in the textile sector. By adopting these six principles, stakeholders can make a significant positive impact on waste reduction and resource optimisation.
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The ABFRL-GIZ partnership is a collaborative initiative aimed at transforming India’s textile industry through circular economy principles. By combining ABFRL’s industry expertise and GIZ’s global experience, the partnership focuses on reducing waste, promoting resource efficiency, and building a sustainable future for fashion in India.
Circularity reimagines how textiles are produced, used, and reused. It minimises waste, conserves resources, and extends the life of products, reducing the industry’s environmental impact while creating economic and social value for communities and businesses.
The 6R Strategy - Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle, Regenerate, is the foundation of our approach to sustainability. It empowers stakeholders to design smarter, minimise resource consumption, reuse materials, and create systems that restore balance to the planet.
The Circularity Innovation Challenge is an initiative launched in 2023 to engage innovators, startups, and small businesses in creating practical, scalable solutions for sustainable textile practices. The challenge has already driven pilot projects and deeper collaboration with innovators across eight categories of circularity.
The Circularity Manifesto is a collaborative vision created by industry stakeholders to accelerate the transition to a circular textile economy. It outlines clear goals, actionable strategies, and a shared commitment to aligning with global sustainability standards while addressing India’s unique needs.
You can download key resources like the Sustainability Report, Circularity Guidelines for Textiles, and the Circular Innovation Challenge Report in the Resources section of this microsite. These materials share insights, best practices, and updates from our ongoing initiatives.
The Circularity Capacity Building Module is designed to educate and empower textile professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to integrate sustainable practices. It covers topics like impact measurement, transition roadmaps, consumer education, and global certifications, helping businesses make informed and effective changes.
The partnership fosters innovation, creates new job opportunities, builds resilience for small businesses, and strengthens India’s competitiveness in the global market, all while reducing environmental harm and supporting national sustainability goals.
Access important reports, case studies, and other valuable resources that outline our circularity journey, best practices and results from our joint initiatives.