The third edition of DyeChem World Tirupur was inaugurated with much fanfare at India Knit Fair Complex, on June 6, 2023. The who’s who of the Tirupur cluster was present during the inauguration ceremony, which started with the lighting of the auspicious lamp.
S Periasamy, CEO, AIC-NIFTTEA Incubation Centre for Textiles and Apparels (Supported by Atal Innovation Mission), spoke about the need for shows such as DyeChem World in Tirupur cluster, which is among the most vibrant textile and clothing clusters in the country, that is increasing its focus on ESG (Environment, Social and Corporate Governance).
“Sustainability is the focal point for Tirupur cluster to develop the industry. So, ESG plays a very vital role in sustainability. As far as economic and environmental impact is concerned the Tirupur cluster has invested in green energy – wind energy, solar energy, and most modern machinery for energy savings.
Water savings is another important focus area for the industry – there are 18 CETPs in Tirupur with ZLD facility, and not a single drop of polluted water is discharged by the industry. To solve the problem of salt mixed with effluent, AIC NIFT TEA has developed a salt-free technology, which is really attractive for the manufacturers and buyers alike. It would be right to say that ESGreporting is now possible for the Tirupur cluster. They just need to quantify so that they can give valuable proposition to the buyers. And as far as global funding for ESG is concerned, it will be very beneficial for the industry to focus more on carbon neutrality.
“In this respect we appreciate Textile Excellence for taking the initiative of inviting dyes and chemicals manufacturers and particularly supporting sustainability. So here exhibitors bring in new technologies in moisture management, water repellence, fire retardancy, which is very much needed to supply products for the defence forces.
“Some of the printing technologies also support sustainability. And some technologies like resin finish, anti-wrinkle finish, etc. are very useful for knitting.
Speaking on the occasion, Raja Shanmugham, FounderDirector, Warsaw International, and one of the leaders of the Tirupur textile and apparel industry, talked about the need to take ESG seriously. “We have been following sustainable development goals in manufacturing knitwear in the cluster. Here the focus is on economical, societal and environmental sustainability. Now to attract ESG – Environmental, Social, Governance, funding, we need to quantify our practices so that we will attract buyers and also funds.
“As we work toward carbon neutrality, AIC NIFT TEA is doing a survey with the support of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) – so that the commitments of Tirupur manufacturers are taken into consideration. So, I will say we are in the right position to go along with ESG reporting on sustainability.”
Dr. A. Sakthivel, President, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), further elaborating on the green theme, stated: “Tirupur is increasingly depending on green energy. We not only produce solar and wind energy for our own consumption, but we are also able to pass it on to the grid. Tirupur treats around 300 million litres of water, no other town in the country does that I am sure. We have successfully planted around 2.5 million trees in the district, which is giving us a lot of environmental benefits. Natural resources conservation, waste reduction is high on the agenda of Tirupur. In the recent Magic Show in USA, we successfully branded Tirupur as the Green Town.”
Further talking about the market conditions, he gave confidence to the industry: “The current market conditions may be dull, which is because of the global situation. According to our latest analysis, exports of textiles and clothing from competing countries – China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, etc, was down by almost 50% or even more, during January-May, 2023. However, India’s exports fell by just 10%. Moreover, we are seeing that orders from the US are picking up as inflation in the US is getting contained. FTA with the UK, Canada is expected to be finalised later this year. We expect markets to do well going forward.”
Speaking about the green practices across Tirupur, Commissioner of Corporation, Tiruppur, Thiru. Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, said: “The district municipality is itself geared towards sustainable practices. And we ensure all support to the industry too in its move towards more and more sustainable development.”
The entire Tirupur cluster is geared towards achieving sustainable production. Said AhillRathinasamy, President, Knit Cloth Manufacturers Association, “All the sectors from knitting, dyeing, printing – in Tirupur are focussing on energy conservation, water saving and supporting social accountability. So always, we are focussing on offering sustainable products to retailers. It is time to further expose these efforts to the world that Tirupur is the dynamic cluster in supporting sustainability development goals.”
Other industry leaders during the inaugural function included A C Easwaran, President, South India Hosiery Manufacturers’ Association, P Moghan, Chairman, NIFT-TEA Knitwear Fashion Institute, M.P. Muthurathinam, President, Tirupur Exporters & Manufacturers Association, Boopati, CEO, Dyers’ Association of Tirupur, K Nagesh, President, Tirupur Dyes & Chemicals Merchants Association, Suresh Kumar, Chamber of Commerce.
The Innovation Summit on the second day of the show witnessed interesting discussions around: Challenges in textile coloration and finishing / Challenges in manufacturing sustainable textile fibres.
Experts and thought leaders from prominent organisations such as Britacel, Comet, Novozyme, Colorband, Neochem, and dyers like Best Colours converged to share their insights, experiences, and expertise. Attendees gained valuable knowledge and solutions about implementing sustainable practices, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable textile industry.
DyeChem World Tirupur from 6 – 8 July 2023, attracted around 2,000 visitors from across the state’s textile and clothing clusters. Organised by Textile Excellence, Society of Dyers & Colourists and AIC-NIFTTEA Incubation Centre for Textiles and Apparels, the show has become a much-awaited one in the cluster.
Key Highlights of the DyeChem World – Sustainable Solutions Exhibition
• An array of sustainable dyes and specialty chemicals manufacturers will showcase their latest innovation
• Eco-friendly technologies that reduce water consumption and energy use
• Innovative processes to minimize waste and environmental impact
• Expert-led discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions at the Innovation Summit
• Networking opportunities with leading industry professionals and stakeholders
“We are thrilled to host the DyeChem World Exhibition, a pioneering effort that showcases the most promising sustainable alternatives for textile coloration and finishing. By bringing together industry experts, innovators, and stakeholders, we aim to collectively drive positive change and shape an eco-friendlier future for the textile & apparel sector,” said D J Gohain, CEO, Textile Excellence – the event organizer.
This event is an essential milestone towards achieving a sustainable and responsible textile industry. The next dates announced of DyeChem World Ludhiana are from January 18–20, 2024.
