The Karur textile cluster is one of India’s leading home textile hubs, and in a recent workshop entitled Advancing Sustainability & Circularity in Karur Textile Cluster, the commitment to sustainability and circularity was reaffirmed.
The workshop was organised by KTMEA, KHEXMASS, CII-Karur, Karur Knitting and Weaving Factory Owners Association and Dyers & Bleachers Association – which gathered together over 100 industry leaders, exporters, government stakeholders and sustainability experts.
Industry voices, from across the spectrum, such as, P. Gopalakrishnan (President, KTMEA), C. Tamilselvi (Textiles Dept, GoTN), M. Prabhu (CII-Karur) made compelling arguments about collaboration, policy alignment, and sustainable pathways for MSMEs. Voices recorded and insights captured from leaders from Asian Fabricx, Tirupur Exporters Association, CRB, Intellecap, and others, added richness and perspective to discussion.
Two major sustainability initiatives were showcased:
- InTex India (a UNEP & MoT project): Provides technical support for Life Cycle Assessments and eco-innovation to 15+ SMEs.
- EU Switch Asia – SME decarbonisation (CAIF-Intellecap): Is targeting 250–400 SMEs across India to support green finance readiness, ESG readiness, and carbon footprint reduction.
The workshop represented an important first step in taking Karur to a national position of leadership in sustainable textiles. The industry’s collective promise illustrates: Karur is ready for a greener future.
