India produces a significant amount of textile waste, generating approximately 7,793 kilotonnes (ktons) of textile waste annually. This represents 8.5% of the total global textile waste production, making India the fourth largest producer of textile waste in the world, behind China and the European Union and the United States.

Over one million tonnes of textiles are scrapped every year in India, according to industry estimates and is third largest source of municipal solid waste in India.

Major dumping sites for textile waste in India are:

A 2021 study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production estimated that textile waste could contribute up to 5% of India’s non-agricultural methane emissions. In addition to this, Another 2021 study published in the “Journal of Cleaner Production” suggested that textile waste could be responsible for 20% of the carbon footprint of the Indian textile industry. This is significant in terms of GH emissions from one country alone.

When we talk about sustainability in fashion it is important to tackle overconsumption and overproduction of textile goods in a way that promotes conscious living without adding further pressure on our already over-stressed ecosystem. De-escalating demand for fast fashion, supporting local brands, and turning to renting, thrifting etc. are some eco-conscious ways of enjoying fashion whilst having a very low to negative carbon and methane footprint.