The 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos convened global leaders under the theme “Rebuilding Trust in a Fractured World,” emphasizing collaborative solutions to pressing challenges like climate action, equitable growth, and technological disruption. Key discussions revolved around sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), gender parity, and geopolitical shifts such as the "China Plus One" strategy—a business approach to diversify supply chains beyond China. For the Indian textile industry and for Welspun Living, a global leader in home textile products, WEF 2025 served as a platform to showcase its ESG-driven business model and align its vision with global imperatives. Leading stakeholders across industries attended the event and discussed the need for sustainable solutions going forward. Welspun Living was at the centre of these discussions, serving as the blueprint for sustainable textile manufacturing.
WEF 2025 largely covered three main umbrellas of sustainability and ESG discourse across industries. The main points covered under these discussions were as follows:
Climate action dominated discussions, with calls for businesses to adopt circular economies and reduce carbon footprints.
AI was highlighted as a tool for innovation and productivity, though ethical deployment and workforce upskilling were emphasized.
Gender Parity for Economic Growth
Empowering women in decision-making roles emerged as critical for achieving global GDP targets.
The "China Plus One" strategy gained traction, positioning India as a manufacturing alternative due to its skilled workforce and integrated supply chains.
Welspun Living’s initiatives to adopt circular economies and reduce carbon footprints align with WEF’s emphasis on sustainability. The company champions sustainable textile operations, prioritizing eco-friendly processes across its value chain.
Welspun integrates AI as a force for good, enhancing productivity and operational efficiency while prioritizing ethical deployment. Its AI-driven systems simplify workflows for employees, reflecting WEF’s focus on balancing innovation with workforce well-being.
The company actively empowers women through initiatives for its workforce and local communities. By fostering leadership opportunities and skill development, Welspun supports WEF’s vision of gender parity as a driver of economic growth.
As a leader in India’s manufacturing sector, Welspun exemplifies the "China Plus One" strategy. Its robust, integrated supply chains and skilled workforce position it as a global textile partner, aligning with WEF’s emphasis on diversified and resilient production networks.
With the World Economic Forum 2025 underway, Ms. Dipali Goenka, CEO and MD of Welspun Living spoke to NDTV about its implications and what it means for the Indian economy and Welspun’s future.
Speaking on the discourse around sustainability at the WEF 2025, Ms. Goenka underscored Welspun Living’s commitment to “restoring ecosystems” through its ESG framework. She spoke about how the company’s sustainable manufacturing efforts aligned with sustainable development goals in India. She detailed initiatives like:
Ms. Goenka positioned AI as a catalyst for Welspun’s growth, stating it “coexists with human ingenuity.” Examples include:
On the subject of gender equality and inclusive growth, Ms. Goenka argued that India’s $5-trillion GDP goal hinges on women’s workforce participation. She highlighted:
Discussing the "China Plus One" strategy, Ms. Goenka emphasized the cotton textile industry in India’s potential as a manufacturing hub. Key points included:
Ms. Goenka’s WEF insights reflect Welspun’s dual focus on profitability and purpose:
Ms. Dipali Goenka’s analysis of the WEF 2025 underscored Welspun Living’s role as a sustainability trailblazer and advocate for inclusive growth. By integrating ESG principles with technological innovation, the home solutions company not only navigates global challenges but also sets benchmarks for the industry. As Ms. Goenka aptly summarized, “Sustainability isn’t a choice—it’s the only way forward.” Welspun Living, with its ESG-focused textile factories in India and globally is setting the benchmark for sustainable manufacturing and textile operations, not just for the Indian textile industry but the global industry as well..
