November 2024, Delhi, India The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the Fair Wear Foundation have partnered to introduce a ground-breaking program that will give Indian textile exporters the necessary resources to comply with the recently implemented Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) of the European Union. This historic guideline, which was unveiled in May 2024, represents a substantial departure from trade compliance by requiring thorough environmental and human rights due diligence throughout international supply chains.
CITI recently held its third session, “Advancing Sustainable and Responsible Business Practices: HRDD, CSDDD, and Chemical Compliance,” in Mumbai as a part of this ambitious collaboration. In addition to showcasing well-known industry professionals, the event offered customized advice on how Indian exporters may turn compliance issues into competitive advantages.
Ms. Chandrima Chatterjee, the Secretary General of CITI, highlighted in her introductory remarks how the CSDDD would revolutionize the Indian textile industry. “The CSDDD is a significant shift that emphasizes the necessity of conforming to international sustainability standards,” she said. “Deeper integration with international frameworks is essential to maintain our competitive edge in the global market, even though India has strong labor and environmental regulations.”
This view was supported by Dr. Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director of TEXPROCIL, who talked about the industry’s transition from optional sustainability measures to required compliance as crucial for accessing international markets. He demonstrated how proactive adaption of contemporary international rules, such as growing carbon price requirements and good governance norms, may establish Indian textile exporters as pioneers in responsible trade.
The workshop’s high point was the succinct presentation given by Ms. Mousumi Sarangi, the Fair Wear Foundation’s Country Manager for India. She gave attendees practical techniques that combine profitability and shared accountability, emphasizing the value of proactive due diligence over merely complying with regulations. She said, “This change encourages Indian companies to take the lead in improving working conditions.”
Ms. Annabel Meurs, Associate Director of the Fair Wear Foundation in the Netherlands, also shared her thoughts during the session and gave a thorough explanation of the CSDDD’s specifications. She underlined the necessity of industry cooperation to safeguard suppliers’ interests in the face of growing compliance complexity. This reaffirmed the workshop’s main takeaway, which was that strengthening trade partnerships and attaining sustainable growth require teamwork.
Furthermore, Ms. Drashti Patel, Global Product Compliance’s Regulatory Manager, talked about how important chemical compliance is to maintaining environmental purity. She offered a road map for building credibility in sustainability initiatives and urged transparency and science-based standards in order to combat the problem of greenwashing. As the session came to an end, a strong call to action from
The event’s reputation as a solutions-driven forum for India’s textile industry was cemented when its interactive Q&A session enabled participants to delve deeper into the challenges of international compliance.
With assistance from TEXPROCIL and AEPC and coordinated in collaboration with the Fair Wear Foundation, CITI’s initiative establishes a new standard for promoting ethical business practices in the textile sector and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future.
