Regulating Fashion: Legal Measures For Sustainability And Textile Waste Reduction In India

Introduction

The Indian textile sector has been a pillar of the economy for years, making important contributions to industrial output, exports and employment[1]. Yet its fast growth has also created urgent environmental issues, such as too much textile waste and pollution. The fashion industry globally is responsible for almost 10% of carbon emissions and 20% of industrial water pollution, so sustainability is a matter of urgency[2]. The growing availability of fast fashion in India has quickly led to an increase in the consumption of resource and waste. To address such challenges, the government has embarked upon many legislative rules and regulations designed to enhance sustainable fashion and reduce textile waste. India aims to reconcile environmental management and economic development with the enhancement of circular fashion, renewable energy, and increasing environmental regulations on fashion. With its various industrial environments and rich textile history, India is well positioned to move towards a sustainable future, but it needs a clear legislative framework and compliance with such regulations to be successful.

Importance Of Sustainable Fashion And Textile Waste Reduction In India:

The sudden growth of the textile sector has created severe environmental issues, mostly because it is based on synthetic fibres and energy-driven manufacturing processes. Production levels has increased twice the amount in the last 15 years but the durability of garments has reduced by 36%[3]. Surprisingly, just 1% of the fibres are recycled into new clothes, indicating a heavy reliance on raw materials. Growing demand and waste production necessitate a shift to sustainable fashion in order to combat environmental deterioration and maintain resource accessibility throughout time.

During the production of textiles, pollutants, excess carbon emissions, and microplastics get released into waterways, causing damage to both marine ecosystems and communities living nearby. Sustainable fashion advocates for lowering carbon emissions, cutting down on water use, and relying on more sustainable textiles. Furthermore, the principle of ‘waste’ is a sustainable principle that will further lessen energy consumption, water consumption, and raw material consumption when ‘waste’ does not end up in a landfill. The industry can additionally save on costs through recycling and upcycling.

In addition to ecological issues, ethical labour offers another reason why sustainable fashion is important. Fast fashion brands often take advantage of cheap labour in India, who are paid very low wages, asked to work long hours, and work in unsafe conditions. Conversely, sustainable clothing businesses value fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethically produced materials. Consumer awareness is driving sustainability as there is a demand for clothing produced in a fair and environmentally friendly way. Sustainable fashion businesses build trust with their consumers and then establish a new standard for the industry. Addressing environmental issues and reducing waste in textiles, therefore, is vital in protecting workers’ rights and advancing sustainable fashion.

Laws Promoting Sustainable Fashion And Textile Waste Reduction In India:

India has a number of regulatory frameworks related to waste management, pollution control, and ethical manufacturing to help promote sustainability and waste reduction in the fashion sector. The Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986, forms the basis for Indian environmental laws. This broad legislation sets a standard for pollution control in relation to the operation of textile manufacturing plants and establishes waste management and resource conservation. Factories are required to bring in sustainable practices to mitigate their negative environmental impact – waste management and processes to make dyeing and finishing less harmful or more sustainable. The EPA is critical to mitigate air and water pollution from textile manufacturing through more robust emission and discharge standards.

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime, implemented under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016[4], regime safeguards sustainability in the fashion industry as well. This policy holds producers, importers, and brand owners responsible for managing the waste of their plastic packaging. With textile waste becoming an increasingly larger proportion of synthetic fibers in textiles, if the EPR model were enlarged to include applications for textile waste, businesses would be required to take responsibility of that product for its entire lifetime. This would advance models of circular economy, where textile waste is reused (e.g., thrifted, donated etc.) and recycled.

The 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules, which complement the laws about plastic waste, also promote sustainable fashion and reduced textile waste. These rules include requirements for recycling textile waste, proper disposal, and the segregation of waste. Under an EPR structure, manufacturers will soon be made responsible for textile waste and will be part of waste management programs. Local governments will need to set up local recycling facilities to promote the upcycling of fabric and waste-to-energy programs. No untreated textile waste can be disposed of, and such waste must be properly treated and recycled. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) rules will also require textile manufacturers to treat wastewater and not just release wastewater into natural waterways. Manufacturers are incentivized to adopt more ecologically sound production methods because of the ramifications of failing to comply. Future amendments to the rules on Solid Waste Management may include additional regulation

India’s commitment to sustainable fashion is further reinforced by its National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)[5], which consolidates various efforts for improvement in energy efficiency, resource conservation, and waste management in the textile industry. The National Solar Mission fosters solar-powered textile factories, reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based energy sources. Similarly, the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency encourages the utilization of energy-efficient technologies during textile manufacturing, diminishing the overall carbon footprint of the industry. Water conservation is another area of emphasis within the work areas of NAPCC.

Textile manufacturers are mandated, through the National Water Mission, to process and recycle their wastewater, rather than polluting and depleting fresh water resources, allowing manufacturers to comply with Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) regulations. Simultaneously, under the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, textile waste is required to be recycled, with manufacturers encouraged to adopt sustainable waste management strategies. The Green India Mission is also working to lower the ecological footprint of the traditional cotton textile industry, which generates excessive amounts of water and pesticides due to cotton production, through traditional cultivation of organic cotton. In addition, the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) provides grants to support research on sustainable textile technologies, including water-efficient, eco-dying processes and developing biodegradable textiles. All of these initiatives contribute to developing sustainable circular economy practices in the fashion and textiles industry.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) plays a crucial role in regulating eco-friendly textiles by introducing certification standards that ensure compliance with sustainability norms[6]. The ISO 14024 certification sets out certain criteria for textile products, such as using less water, using organic materials, and using fewer chemical treatments. The certification provides consumers the confidence that the product they are purchasing complies with environmentally friendly apparel production practices. Brands that successfully obtain this certification are recognized within the sustainable fashion industry, which will incentivize further brands, or producers of textile products, to develop and use ethical manufacturing processes.

Conclusion

To face and address the ethical and environmental issues of the textile industry requires a reduction of textile waste and supporting a sustainable fashion industry. To the rise of pollution, scarcity of resources, and unethical labour practices, India has developed many regulations and policies in recent years to promote sustainability. The Environmental Protection Act (EPA), 1986, and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 regulate pollution and waste management for sustainable production. The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) promotes circular economy designs, and the efforts of the NAPCC promote water efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable technology in textiles. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification also encourages sustainable textiles that divert brands to a product that meets the socially responsible standard. Policy mechanisms in India presenting sustainability efforts do not ever seem imagined, letting economic growth be pursued concurrently with sustainability. However, the long-term sustainability of the sustainable textile industry would be dependent upon the imperative objectives of compliance and enforcement by industry.

[1] Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), 2025. India’s textile industry: Embracing sustainability and innovation. [online] Available at: https://www.ibef.org/blogs/india-s-textile-industry-embracing-sustainability-and-innovation [Accessed 27 March 2025].

[2] Natarajan, A. and Mounaguruswamy, P., 2025. Sustainable Fashion in India: Navigating Challenges, Unveiling Solutions, and Unlocking Opportunities for Entrepreneurs. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 12(1), pp.a15–a22. Available at: https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2501004.pdf [Accessed 27 March 2025].

[3] [3] Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), 2025. India’s textile industry: Embracing sustainability and innovation. [online] Available at: https://www.ibef.org/blogs/india-s-textile-industry-embracing-sustainability-and-innovation [Accessed 27 March 2025].

[4] Dodhia, B.M., 2025. India’s infrastructure for managing textile waste requires significant development. [online] Waste & Recycling. Available at: https://www.wasterecyclingmag.com/india/india-s-infrastructure-for-managing-textile-waste-requires-significant-development [Accessed 27 March 2025].

[5] Press Information Bureau (PIB), 2021. India’s Climate Actions: Transforming for a Sustainable Future. [pdf] Government of India. Available at: https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2021/dec/doc202112101.pdf [Accessed 27 March 2025].

[6] Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Environmental Standards for Textile Industry. Available at: https://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=ZW52aXJvbm1lbnQtcGxhbm5pbmcvZWNvLWxhYmVsL3RleHRpbGVzLnBkZg== [Accessed 27 Mar. 2025].

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