Textiles Committee, GeM, and SCOPE Join Hands to Promote Upcycled Textile Products

New Delhi: A significant step towards promoting sustainability in the textile industry was taken at the ongoing Bharat Tex 2024 event, where the Textiles Committee, Government e Marketplace (GeM), and Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement aims to boost the production and promotion of upcycled products made from textile waste and scrap.

The signing ceremony, held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, was graced by Smt. Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles and Railways, who attended as the Chief Guest, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles. Shri P. K. Singh, CEO of GeM, was also present on this occasion.

The MoU was signed by Shri S. P. Verma, Secretary, Textiles Committee; Shri Ajit B. Chavan, Additional CEO, GeM; and Shri SubhRatna, General Manager, SCOPE.

Upcycling for Sustainable Textiles:
Upcycling involves repurposing textile waste and scrap to extend its life cycle, creatively transforming discarded items into new products of greater value and functionality. Unlike traditional recycling, which breaks down materials to their base state, upcycling reuses existing materials without altering their basic structure. This process significantly reduces energy, chemical, and water consumption, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Objectives of the MoU:

Market Linkages: GeM will collaborate with stakeholders in the upcycling ecosystem, especially under-served seller groups, to provide direct market linkages in public procurement. The initiative aims to eliminate intermediaries through #Vocalforlocal GeM Outlet Stores, promoting upcycled products made from textile waste and scrap.

Advocacy and Outreach: GeM will engage stakeholders in the textiles upcycling sector through advocacy, awareness, outreach, mobilization, and capacity building of last-mile upcyclers. The platform will conduct stakeholder consultations and design technical specifications for listing upcycled product catalogues for government procurement.

Environmental Sustainability and Conscious Consumption:
Growing awareness of environmental sustainability has led to increased demand for upcycled products made from textile waste and scrap. This initiative is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Consumption and Production.

GeM, since its inception in 2016, has emerged as a crucial platform for government procurement. With over 1.46 lakh government buyers and 21 lakh+ sellers, it has fulfilled 52.58 lakh orders, worth ₹3.52 Lakh Crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in the current financial year alone.

The collaboration between the Textiles Committee, GeM, and SCOPE signifies a collective effort towards fostering a sustainable and circular textile value chain, paving the way for responsible consumption and production practices in the textile industry.