Abstract
The world is going behind current fashion trends, which boost producers to come up with products to meet the demand based on the current trends. Once the trend dies, the stock becomes stagnant and ends up in landfills instead of being recycled. There is a growth of awareness of sustainability among the people, and therefore, it is necessary that sustainable practices be carried out in the fashion industry. However, there is a lack of a proper regulatory framework regarding maintaining sustainable practices in the fashion industry, which serves as a limitation to achieving a very sustainable textile production and contributes to environmental pollution. There is a necessity to bring in a new comprehensive regulation and set up a statutory body to check whether the regulations are abided by, and increase awareness among the people to follow more sustainable fashion trends and not follow fast fashion trends.
Introduction
The Textile Industry in India is one of the largest sectors in India. As per the Financial Year 24, it accounts for 2.3% of India’s GDP and 12% of exports. It is the second-largest textile manufacturing Industry in the world. It also employs a huge number of people.
In recent years, there has been a significant growth in fast fashion worldwide. Fast fashion provides cheap and affordable clothing based on what’s in trend at the moment. Fast fashion is fueled by the young population, which is conscious of current trends and has an interest in spending its disposable income. The clothes are used and disposed of very often, and the brands that keep up with present trends produce clothes in huge quantities when they are trending, and the excess stock remaining after the trend dies off ends up in the landfills, contributing highly to land pollution.
With the increase in awareness of sustainable production and living, the general population are trying to live a sustainable life. This has also motivated the fashion industry to bring out sustainable products in order to maintain its consumer base. However, fast fashion still exists without regulation, and the law needs to intervene to create responsibility in the producers.
Keywords
Fashion industry, fast fashion, sustainable fashion, textile waste management.
Regulatory Framework for Textile Waste Management in India.
The sudden increase in textile consumption has increased production in the last 15 years, but the durability of products has decreased by 15%. Only 1% of these disposed of garments are recycled; the rest end up in landfills. During the production of textiles, pollutants and microplastics, along with carbon particles, are released into waterways, affecting the water bodies. Sustainable fashion advocates for low carbon emissions, less water use, and relying on more sustainable textiles. In India, several regulatory frameworks exist for managing waste and controlling pollution.
The Environment Protection Act, 1986, sets the standard for pollution control in relation to the operation of textile manufacturing plants and establishes waste management and resource conservation. According to the Act, factories are to adopt sustainable practices to mitigate their negative environmental impacts. They are to follow proper waste management and try to make dyeing and finishing less harmful and more sustainable. EPA also regulates the emission of harmful gases from textile industries to ensure that they are not harmful and do not affect society on a large scale.
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, promote sustainable fashion. These rules include requirements for recycling of textile waste, proper disposal and the segregation of waste. India’s commitment to sustainable fashion can also be seen through the National Action Plan on Climate Change, which consolidates various efforts which can be made for improved energy efficiency, resource conservation and waste management in the textile industry. The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change provides grants to support research on sustainable textile technologies, including water-efficient manufacturing, eco-dying processes and biodegradable textiles.
Role of Extended Producer Responsibility in Advancing Circular Fashion and Eco-Labelling for Sustainable Textiles
The Extended Producer Responsibility is a policy approach that holds producers liable for their products even after the post-consumer stage. The idea originates from the concept of product stewardship. Product stewardship is the approach to minimising products’ health, safety, environmental, and social impacts throughout their life cycle. EPR is a legislative tool that holds producers responsible for their products from sourcing through manufacturing and all the way to recycling or landfilling. EPR places more responsibility on the producers because it believes that they have unlimited control over the product. It shifts the responsibility from municipalities to the producers and, therefore, motivates producers to consider environmental impacts when designing products. It helps brands develop products that consider waste reduction and promote recycling. In France, EPR mandates that producers collect 50% of the volume of products they introduce to the market.
The Bureau of Indian Standards plays a crucial role in regulating eco-friendly textiles by introducing certification standards that ensure compliance with sustainable norms. The ISO 14024 certification outlines specific criteria for textile products, including reduced water consumption, the use of organic materials, and fewer chemical treatments. It grants the products an eco-mark, providing consumers with confidence that the products they purchase are made from environmentally friendly materials.
Challenges and Possible Innovation
The Indian legal system lacks a single comprehensive regulation or statute to regulate and control sustainable fashion. There are a huge number of industries, and there is no proper authority to look into whether these industries are following sustainable practices. There are no stringent punishments for not following the sustainable method of production and recycling. There is a necessity to bring in a single comprehensive statute and set up an administrative body to look into the practices done by the textile industries, and also create awareness among the people to follow sustainable fashion practices instead of following fast fashion trends to contribute positively toward the environment.
Conclusion
The fashion industry of India is one of the fastest-growing industries with global recognition. It employs a large portion of the working population. It also contributes to the landfills due to excess materials making its way to the landfills instead of getting recycled. It is therefore a treat to the environment and shall be prevented through stringent statutory procedures which ensure sustainable production and consumption.
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WRITTEN BY I Sharan
