Textile Minister Giriraj Singh stated today that India's textile sector, one of the largest in the world, has significant potential to lead the global transition towards sustainable and circular production systems. He made this statement while releasing the report titled "Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India" in New Delhi.
Mr. Singh emphasized that India's textile industry continues to expand rapidly, and it is important that this growth is aligned with sustainability goals. He noted that the report provides a data-driven blueprint for transforming textile waste into a valuable economic resource, and highlights practical pathways for recycling, upcycling, and resource recovery.
The Ministry of Textiles stated that the report provides a comprehensive assessment of textile waste generation, recovery pathways, recycling technologies, and opportunities to strengthen circularity across India's textile value chain. It further added that the study maps both pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste streams, identifies recycling practices across clusters, documents emerging technologies, and outlines policy recommendations to strengthen India's circular textile ecosystem.
The report estimates that India generates nearly 70 lakh tonnes of textile waste annually. Of this, 42 per cent originates from pre-consumer sources, while 58 per cent arises from post-consumer disposal. The findings further indicate that around 95 per cent of pre-consumer textile waste is recovered. The report further projects that India's textile recycling market is projected to reach $3.5 billion by 2030, with the potential to create nearly one lakh green jobs.
The Ministry stated that the findings of the report are expected to support policy formulation, industry collaboration, and investments aimed at strengthening India's position as a global hub for circular and sustainable textiles.