Sustainability

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, Ravi Sam, Vice Chairman, TEXPROCIL, conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

Fashion Guru

Cotton is a cornerstone of livelihood for countless Indian farmers, workers, and families—both within our borders and across the globe. From feedstock to finished goods, cotton threads together communities, cultures, and generations, becoming a powerful symbol of connection, sustenance, and joy. Its historical significance to India is profound.

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, Brooke Summers-Consultant and Passionate Advocate for Sustainable Fibres, Farming & Fashion, conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

Fashion Guru

Thank you—truly, thank you for having me. And a very happy World Cotton Day to my fellow panellists!

Today, I want to share three key insights on branding and market positioning. First—and it seems you're already well on your way—is to define your brand’s essence. What makes India’s Heartland cotton distinctive on the global stage?

GREENEXT Expo 2025 Redefines Sustainability as Actionable Business Strategy in Shanghai.

The landmark event, attended by 5,022 professionals, confirms the global shift from why to how, driving cross-sector collaboration across 120+ enterprises and 200+ case studies. The GREENEXT Expo 2025 successfully concluded on September 27 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, solidifying its position as one of the most influential annual platforms for sustainability transformation in China and beyond.

Positioned as China's leading greening initiative and accelerator platform, the two-day event focused on the core pillars of Sustainability Innovation × Cross-Sector Collaboration × Business, welcoming 5,022 attendees and bringing together over 120 leading global enterprises and organizations.

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, H'ble Pabitra Margherita-Union Minister of State for External Affairs; and Textiles , conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

Fashion Guru

It is indeed a privilege to join you all in celebrating World Cotton Day 2035. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Federation of Indian Textile Industry.

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, Ms. Padmini Singla, IAS, Joint Secretary (Fibre) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

Respected Secretary Ma’am, distinguished dignitaries, esteemed delegates, and valued members of the cotton and textile fraternity,

A warm welcome to all on the occasion of World Cotton Day 2025. It is indeed an honour to host the 4th World Cotton Conference, organized with the support of CITI and the Ministry of Textiles.

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, Ashwin Chandra, CITI chairman, conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

We gather here today not merely to celebrate a fibre, but to honour a legacy — one that has shaped the global textile industry and continues to sustain the livelihoods of millions across the world.

At the outset, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh Ji, for gracing this occasion with his distinguished presence. Sir, your continued leadership and vision have been pivotal in guiding India’s textile sector toward greater self-reliance, productivity, and sustainability.

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, Smt. Neelam Shami Rao-Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

At the outset, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone on the occasion of the 4th World Cotton Day. Four years ago, when the UN resolution on World Cotton Day was adopted, it was envisioned to integrate the right to livelihood with sustainability and innovation—ensuring that the fibre of life continues to thrive.

Compiled by Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Global Cotton Conference held yesterday in New Delhi, Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, Government of India, conveyed a powerful message on the future of India’s cotton sector, coinciding with the celebration of World Cotton Day.

He extended his gratitude to industry leaders, delegates, and organizers including CITI and Ministry of Textiles, acknowledging their contributions to India’s cotton ecosystem. Highlighting the conference theme—“Technology, Climate, and Competitiveness”—the Minister emphasized that climate change and sustainability are shared responsibilities, urging every individual and enterprise to contribute toward reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural resources.

Dhaka is set to host the pioneering Bangladesh-China Green Textile Expo 2025 (BCGTX) from October 23 to 25 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).
A collaborative initiative between Savor International Limited and the China Enterprise Association in Bangladesh (CEAB), the expo will feature the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) providing intellectual support as a Knowledge Partner. The event will serve as a platform to spotlight innovation, cooperation, and sustainability in the textile sector, placing a significant emphasis on man-made fibres (MMF).

In addition to the main exhibition, a curated series of seminars will convene academics and industry leaders to exchange perspectives on sustainable practices and green development within the textile field.

Address by: Shivendra Parmar-Assistant General Manager-Technical, TUV Rheinland india pvt ltd 

4th Edition Sustainable Textiles Summit 2025 | September 17, 2025

Compiled by: Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications.

At TUV, we support this transformation by offering testing, certification, consultancy, and root-cause analysis—helping the textile sector move towards true circularity and global compliance.

Many textile plants have already taken steps toward Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC).

Address by Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director General at Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

4th Edition Sustainable Textiles Summit 2025 | September 17, 2025

Compiled by: Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications.

We often focus on industries like textiles when discussing carbon emissions but rarely question the growing footprint of the service sector. With the world racing toward artificial intelligence, we must ask: how much energy will AI supercomputers demand, and how much heat will they generate?

Address by a representative of Bureau Veritas India Pvt. Ltd.

4th Edition Sustainable Textiles Summit 2025 | September 17, 2025

Compiled by: Salil Chawla, Director, DFU Publications.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to ESDCCI, my fellow panelists, and all the participants present here. It is truly a privilege to be part of this session, where we are discussing one of the most crucial topics today—sustainable textiles.

Since this morning, we have explored processes, new technologies, machinery, and production innovations. However, it is equally important to recognize the organizations that govern these standards, monitor compliance, and ensure that facilities meet sustainability and quality requirements.