Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and the Textiles Committee (TC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the procurement of recycled and upcycled textile products made from textile waste, scrap and second-hand clothes by government buyers.
The partnership between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s GeM and the Ministry of Textiles’ Textiles Committee was formalised during the 62nd Foundation Day celebrations of the Textiles Committee in Mumbai.
The initiative aims to create a ‘Waste-to-Value-to-Market’ ecosystem under which textile waste can be converted into quality, value-added products and brought to government buyers through the GeM platform.
Under the agreement, the Textiles Committee will identify, verify, certify and recognise eligible producers of recycled and upcycled textile products.
It will also support stakeholder consultations, capacity building, market research and the development of technical specifications for such products.
Dedicated categories on GeM
GeM will create dedicated categories for recycled and upcycled textile products and facilitate seller onboarding and online market linkages.
The government procurement platform will also promote these products among government buyers. Training and handholding support will be provided to help small recyclers and upcyclers participate in public procurement.
The partnership will follow a hub-and-spoke model, with the Textiles Committee and its affiliated offices facilitating outreach, mobilisation and capacity building of recyclers and upcyclers.
The offices will also support the development of suitable product specifications and catalogues for government procurement.
Focus on MSMEs, women and local enterprises
The initiative will focus on women, micro, small and medium enterprises, local businesses, artisans, recyclers and other enterprises working in the circular economy.
The government said the approach is intended to create an inclusive and decentralised production ecosystem while supporting the national priorities of Vocal for Local, Make in India and AatmaNirbhar Bharat.
Speaking on the partnership, GeM CEO Mihir Kumar said linking certification, standardisation and market access would help create reliable demand for products made from textile waste.
He said the scale of government procurement could accelerate the adoption of recycled and upcycled textile products across offices, institutions, gifting and other public-use requirements.
Boost to circular textile economy
The MoU was signed by Additional CEO, GeM, Ajit B Chavan, and Secretary, Textiles Committee, Kartikay Dhanda, in the presence of Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, Maharashtra Textiles Minister Sanjay Savkare, senior officials and industry representatives.
The initiative is expected to contribute to resource conservation and sustainable livelihoods while promoting responsible consumption and production.
The government said the partnership would help create economic opportunities from textile waste and support India’s transition towards a circular and resource-efficient textile economy through the scale of public procurement.
