A high-level delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) has visited the Panipat Textile Recycling Cluster — India’s largest hub for recycled textiles and circular manufacturing — as part of an official mission to strengthen trade and sustainability ties between India and the European Union.
The delegation included seven Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and two senior representatives from the INTA Secretariat. Their study tour aimed to gain deeper insights into India’s rapidly evolving sustainability ecosystem and to identify potential areas of collaboration in circular textiles and the forthcoming India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The group was welcomed by Parvinder Kadyan, Chairman of the Global Alliance for Textiles Sustainability (GATS), alongside leading industrialists, sustainability pioneers from Panipat, and representatives from the Foundation for MSME Clusters. Discussions focused on enhancing textile circularity, improving trade competitiveness, and aligning with upcoming EU sustainability regulations, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
Panipat, recognised globally for its advanced recycling capabilities, processes thousands of tonnes of textile waste each day, converting it into high-quality fibres, yarns, and garments. The delegation also toured one of the region’s leading spinning facilities, where they observed the transformation of post-consumer textile waste into recycled fibres and yarns. The visit showcased how Indian innovation is driving cost-neutral, low-impact, and fully traceable circular solutions for global fashion brands.
Parvinder Kadyan noted that Panipat exemplifies the spirit of circularity and resilience, stressing that circularity is a global effort requiring collective participation. He emphasised that through robust India–EU collaboration, it is possible to build one of the world’s most responsible and resource-efficient textile ecosystems — one that generates green jobs, conserves natural resources, and demonstrates that sustainability and profitability can progress hand in hand.
Some of the European delegates included Cristina Maestre, INTA Standing Rapporteur for India (S&D), Angelika Niebler, Chair of the EP Delegation for Relations with India (EPP), June O’Keefe, Head of Unit, INTA and Valerie Ramet, Administrator, INTA.
