Bengaluru has launched its first Circular Textile Lab in Koramangala, aimed at diverting textile waste from landfills while promoting the reuse of discarded fabrics and creating employment opportunities for local tailors and women.
The Circular Textile Lab will collect textile waste generated by garment manufacturing units and tailoring establishments and process the material for reuse. Recovered textiles will be converted into products including garments and eco-friendly bags, creating an additional avenue for textile waste to re-enter the production cycle.
The facility was inaugurated at Kasa Rasa Kendra, a ward-level solid waste management centre initiated by NGO Saahas. The project is an initiative of South City Corporation and was inaugurated by Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy along with officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
A key focus of the initiative is also employment generation. The lab will provide work opportunities for economically disadvantaged communities, particularly local tailors and women, linking textile waste management with livelihood creation.
The facility will also house a thrift store where products made from recycled textiles will be sold. Revenue generated through the store will support the welfare of workers as well as the ongoing management of the circular textile project.
To address the environmental impact of textile processing, the centre is equipped with an effluent and sewage treatment system designed to treat dyes and chemicals generated during processing activities. This is intended to ensure that the recycling and upcycling of textile materials does not create additional environmental pollution.
The model has previously been implemented in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) and will initially operate in Koramangala before being expanded to other wards across Bengaluru. The initiative reflects growing efforts within urban waste-management systems to address textile waste separately and encourage circular approaches to apparel and fabric disposal.
