India’s textile industry intensifies shift to sustainable water use

Nearly three-quarters of textile producers in India have adopted Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems in FY2025, signalling a new move toward more sustainable water use in one of the country’s most resource-intensive industries. The findings, based on a recent sector-wide environmental assessment, show that manufacturers are increasingly aligning operations with both domestic and international environmental, social and governance (ESG) expectations.

The textile sector – known for its high water and energy consumption across yarn, fabric and integrated production – has begun expanding efforts to improve resource efficiency and strengthen circular practices. This is reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

Analysts reviewed almost 200 publicly listed companies across the sector to evaluate performance in water management, waste recycling and the uptake of renewable energy from FY2023 to FY2025.

The assessment notes that, while wider ZLD adoption has strengthened water stewardship, waste-generation intensity increased by around 19 per cent in FY2025. This trend is partly linked to more detailed disclosure requirements. Despite this rise, resource circularity continues to improve, with recycling rates increasing from 77 per cent to 80 per cent over the period.

Governance structures are also evolving: more than half of integrated producers have introduced formal ESG committees, and a significant proportion have set defined emission-reduction targets. Other segments of the industry, including apparel and fabric manufacturing, are progressing more gradually but continue to expand their sustainability frameworks.

Industry experts note that advancing sustainability across the sector will require continued investment in next-generation systems, including low-liquor-ratio dyeing technologies, advanced filtration and hybrid treatment processes, as well as expanded use of renewable energy. Strengthening these capabilities, they say, will be crucial to improving long-term resilience and ensuring the sector’s transition towards a low-impact, climate-responsible model.

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