It’s the dawn of a new era in the global textile industry as ESG and sustainability take centre stage to fuel growth and innovation. The textile industry has been historically notorious for its environmental footprint and the world has been calling on it to change its practices. Welspun Living is among the leading companies in the textile industry, spearheading several initiatives that set the benchmark for environmental, social and governance initiatives across the industry. Let’s take a look at some of its most impactful initiatives and its efforts to integrate sustainability and social responsibility within the agricultural supply chain.
Welspun Living’s journey towards a greener tomorrow begins with the source of its raw material – cotton. Welspun is constantly striving to replace conventional raw materials with organic and sustainable alternatives. This is reflected in their increasing sourcing of Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and organic cotton. The company has an ambitious goal to achieve 100% sustainable cotton use by 2030, including both organic and BCI cotton.
But this goes beyond just sourcing. Their dedicated agronomy team works tirelessly with cotton farmers in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana. They encourage them to adopt sustainable cotton cultivation practices by shifting towards natural fertilisers, pesticides, and also adopt micro irrigation practices. Not only does this improve soil health, but it also enhances organic carbon content, leading to better fertility and crop productivity.
Furthermore, they empower farmers with knowledge through extensive training programs on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Over 26,000 farmers across the three states of India have benefited from these programs by successfully transitioning to sustainable farming practices.
A significant portion of the company’s environmental stewardship focus is on the preservation of ecosystems. Soil is the very lifeblood of agriculture. Welspun understands its importance and actively promotes soil restoration through large-scale tree plantation drives around their manufacturing facilities. With over 500,000 saplings planted in Anjar alone, these initiatives are not just about offsetting Their carbon footprint, but also enriching the soil for future generations.
Circularity is another cornerstone of their ESG and sustainability philosophy. By converting waste fabric into cotton fibre, they give new life to discarded materials and divert them from landfills. This commitment to resource efficiency extends to their use of polyester. They're constantly increasing the use of recycled polyester made from post-consumer PET bottles, minimising their reliance on virgin polyester and keeping plastic waste out of the environment.
Their efforts in waste management don't stop there. They significantly reduce disposal of high-calorific waste by implementing robust recycling and reuse programs. This allows them to convert waste into energy, further reducing their environmental impact.
The internet plays a major role in shaping the world’s perception, and agricultural imagery is no exception. A simple search for "farmer" often yields a parade of images featuring men. This is in stark contrast with reality. In India, women constitute a staggering 78% of the agricultural workforce. Yet, their online presence remains negligible. Environmental, social and corporate governance norms must be redefined to encourage further inclusion of women in the agricultural workforce.
The Equal Stock Initiative, launched on International Women's Day, aims to bridge this gap. This groundbreaking project tackles the gender disparity in agricultural imagery by flooding stock photo libraries with captivating photographs of women farmers. These images, captured by Welspun World from their partner farms, are freely available for download on all major online platforms.
Their commitment goes beyond simply making these images available. They actively work to ensure they reach a wider audience through strategic use of relevant keywords and collaborations with media partners. This approach will ultimately lead to a more accurate and balanced portrayal of women farmers in the online space.
The Equal Stock Initiative is more than an image library; it's a powerful environmental, social and governance statement about inclusivity and empowerment. It dismantles stereotypes, amplifies the voices of women in agriculture, and inspires future generations to embrace this vital field. This initiative aligns perfectly with Welspun Living's longstanding commitment to women's empowerment, as the SPUN project exemplifies. SPUN empowers communities of craftswomen from Bhuj who were impacted by the devastating earthquake in 2001. SPUN offers them a path towards financial independence by providing them with opportunities to create sustainable materials for their products.
At Welspun Living, they recognise that true sustainability hinges on a holistic approach. Their commitment to ESG and sustainability principles in the agricultural supply chain reflects this belief. They’re not just cultivating sustainable cotton; they’re cultivating a future where environmental responsibility goes hand-in-hand with social equity and economic empowerment. This is the future they're weaving, thread by thread.
