The prevalent form of dyes and colours has a significant environmental drawback—99% are derived from fossil resources, contributing to pollution and climate change. As the market becomes more aware of these environmental pollutions, many stakeholders are seeking ways to reduce reliance on petrochemicals and adopt circular solutions.

Taiwan boasts a complete industrial ecosystem, which we leverage to develop nano-grinding technology. In the future, beyond textiles, this technology will also be applied to construction materials, plastics, and other fields.

The production of the new product involved biofermentation to generate protein pulp, which was subsequently transformed into fibre. It’s essential for these processes to be integrated and operate simultaneously. However, this has been difficult domestically due to the decline of the American textile industry. Past efforts to manufacture bioengineered fibres in the United States fell short because they struggled with the spinning stage and were unable to produce fibres at a competitive cost.

While it’s true that not all consumer products will necessarily end up in industrial composting facilities, we believe that the process of disposal is just as crucial as the material itself. That’s why, at Balena, we’ve implemented take-back programmes designed to ensure that our materials are properly processed at the end of their lifecycle.

Manual intervention is essential in upcycling because, unlike recycling, upcycling prioritises craftsmanship and artistry. It’s a hands-on approach that transforms waste into something of higher value, rather than breaking it down into raw materials. This focus on human creativity and skill is what makes upcycling unique—and impactful.

Smaller businesses would soon find their way. These channels actually become viable for small businesses with low overheads and zero capex requirements. The channel will be neutral to both big and small players.

Innovations, whether in product or marketing, are indispensable to being a successful brand--and hence, one does not need to be ‘desperate’ for a quick commerce channel to be introduced by a company--be it a Myntra or anyone else.

Given India’s vast geography, moving textile waste is challenging. GATS has worked on waste segregation and upcycling at the source to minimise transportation, ensuring that only recyclable material is transported. Establishing centralised collection points and formalising the roles of waste handlers through cooperatives could further strengthen this ecosystem.

At Revoltech, our materials are made exclusively from bio-based components without harmful chemicals or synthetic binders, ensuring true biodegradability. Composting trials have shown that LOVR decomposes completely in the right environment, leaving no trace. The composting conditions to biodegrade: high temperature, high humidity and above all the presence of the right microorganisms. We stand by our commitment to creating genuinely sustainable alternatives.

Right now, less than 1% of textile materials used to produce clothing are recycled into new clothing. Without a strong demand from fashion brands for recycled textile fibres, textile recyclers are at risk of going bankrupt. This could lead to even more textile waste being sent to landfills or incinerators, defeating the whole purpose of recycling in the first place.

We recognise that regenerative agriculture takes time to show its full potential—improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, and increased crop resilience are long-term outcomes. However, our immediate goals focus on building a robust foundation: training farmers, gathering baseline soil data, and fostering early wins in yield improvements through efficient nutrient management and integrated pest management.

Sustainable fibre sourcing faces systemic challenges, particularly in resource-constrained environments like the developing world. Scaling up regenerative practices requires sustained investment, policy support, and broader stakeholder collaboration. Yet, the ecosystem for sustainable agriculture is still in its infancy in Pakistan.

The misconception around cotton’s water usage has ripple effects on the denim industry, creating undue scepticism about its sustainability. However, Soorty Enterprises actively counters this narrative by leading the way in regenerative and organic cotton farming through projects like SOCI (Soorty Organic Cotton Initiative) and the RegenAgri Initiative.

Soorty was the first large-scale textile manufacturer out of Pakistan to be SBTi-validated. For us, this reflects our commitment to leading the denim industry toward a sustainable future. To achieve our ambitious goals of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 54.6% by 2033, we’ve implemented a comprehensive roadmap.

The demand for antimicrobial textiles is driven by both brands/retailers and end-consumers, with each influencing the other. Brands and retailers seek antimicrobial solutions to differentiate their products and respond to growing health-conscious trends. End-consumers are increasingly aware of and demanding products that offer added hygiene benefits.

Consumers are looking for antimicrobial properties. They are also looking for odour control which is a direct result of adding antimicrobial properties to a garment. But, while consumers want anti-odour as a textile feature, consumers also make it very clear that they want a product that is environmentally friendly.

We are calling for financiers to take initiative and inform themselves of real-life cases of successful ROIs, adapt their perceptions and application/screening processes, and invest in these areas with reasonable terms for borrowers. To support this shift, we’re planning to develop a sustainable financing training and capacity-building programme, set to roll out in 2025, which will target suppliers in the greatest need of financing, using our playbook as a guide.

The denim supply chain indeed begins with cotton, a natural and versatile fibre essential to denim products. While cotton's water usage has raised concerns, it's important to distinguish between conventional practices and newer, more sustainable methods. Misconceptions often arise from outdated views, overlooking significant improvements in water efficiency and regenerative agriculture.

The fact that we are providing a lot of default data options to maintain user-friendliness is also the main reason we clearly state that the tool can only be used for decision support purposes and not for external communication or use by end-consumers.

There is growing awareness around environmental compliance, particularly among AFMEC-affiliated exporters, who often have waste management systems in place to meet client requirements. AFMEC conducts various tests on footwear to assess wear and tear, toxicity, breathability etc. However, in terms of sustainability, the industry lags behind global standards and has much to learn. Some units are engaged in recycling and reusing techniques to manage waste sustainably, but this is not yet widespread.