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In the heart of Sri Lanka, Ocean Lanka emerges as a beacon of sustainable manufacturing, spearheading environmental initiatives in the textile and apparel industry. Founded in 1996, the company has not only cemented its position as Sri Lanka's largest weft-knitted fabric manufacturer but has also set a precedent by being the first in its sector to partner with Bluesign.
Ocean Lanka's commitment to sustainable practices is palpable, evident in its strategic alliances with certification bodies like the Global Organic Textile Standard, Better Cotton Initiative, and Global Recycled Standard. The company is steadfastly working towards reducing water and energy consumption while simultaneously managing biomass responsibly, with a target to decrease consumption by over 3 percent in the next five years.
Waste management takes center stage in Ocean Lanka's operations, with a meticulous categorization system implemented for efficient disposal. An auction mechanism for fabric waste ensures responsible management, preventing overflow and maintaining a record of disposal. Collaborating with the Open University of Sri Lanka, the company is actively researching eco-friendly technologies to recycle wastewater from dyeing operations, showcasing a commitment to innovative water conservation.
Ocean Lanka's foray into energy conservation and renewable resources is equally commendable. From transitioning to LED lamps to investing in solar power, the company is on a mission to reduce its carbon footprint. Additionally, efforts towards sustainable fuelwood cultivation exemplify a holistic approach, benefiting not only the company but also the community and the environment.
Beyond its factory walls, Ocean Lanka takes bold steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Guided by a comprehensive GHG Policy, the company initiates projects aligned with Sustainable Development Goals, including carbon-neutral agriculture and reforestation programs. Collaborating with NGOs like "Rainforest Trust," Ocean Lanka extends its environmental protection commitment to preserve virgin forests across the island.
In the words of Compliance Manager Anuruddha Weerasekera, "Ocean Lanka is not just weaving fabric; we are weaving a sustainable future." The company's dedication transcends industry norms, establishing a model that emphasizes sustainability as a continuous journey towards a greener, better future. Through collaboration, innovation, and unwavering environmental responsibility, Ocean Lanka sets the stage for a global paradigm shift in manufacturing.
Continuing its efforts Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) introduces ongoing pilot for ‘Controlled Supply Chain Scheme’ (CSCS). Initiated in 2022, the CSCS pilot project is designed to aid small-scale operators in surmounting challenges associated with obtaining GOTS certification.
GOTS crafted the scheme to address the administrative and financial hurdles confronted by these operators. The project seeks to enhance supply chain efficiency by simplifying the group certification process, thereby reducing costs and mitigating administrative barriers.
Within the CSCS framework, a supply chain comprises a minimum of eight and a maximum of thirty small-scale facilities, each with twenty or fewer workers. Following a comprehensive risk assessment by their Certification Body (CB), these facilities can collectively attain recognition as a single Certified Entity.
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has upgraded its International Nonwovens Directory, enhancing its user-friendly features. The updated version incorporates improved search and navigation functionalities, allowing nonwoven professionals to easily locate suppliers or manufacturers based on their specific product requirements.
Notably, listings of INDA members will receive priority in the Directory search results, accompanied by a distinctive INDA Member badge. Since its establishment in 1968, INDA has played a vital role in facilitating member collaboration, innovation, and business development. The association offers educational courses, business intelligence, market insights, test methods, consultancy services, and issue advocacy to help its members succeed by providing essential information for effective business planning and execution.
Turkey is ready to host the textile technology exhibition ITM 2024 from June 4 to 8, 2024. This global event will bring together hundreds of manufacturers from around the world, attracting global investors and facilitating numerous trade delegations.
ITM 2024 will serve as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in various textile sectors, covering everything from weaving to knitting, yarn to digital printing, and finishing to denim. The exhibition will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to explore eco-friendly technologies and cutting-edge solutions in digitalization, promoting a sustainable future for the industry.
The anticipated visitors to the exhibition include company owners, managers, employees, and sector representatives. They will engage with experts to gain insights into state-of-the-art technologies for their factories, fostering opportunities for new product development and strategic investments.
The 2022 edition of ITM witnessed the participation of 1,280 companies and attracted 64,500 professional visitors from 102 countries.
The Bihar government is enticing entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to invest in the state's textile sector at the upcoming 'Bihar Business Connect 2023' Global Investors' Summit. Taking place in Patna from December 13-14, 2023, the summit aims to present diverse investment opportunities across sectors such as leather, IT/ITeS and ESDM, food processing and hospitality, and tourism.
In a bid to attract investors, Bihar is offering an expansive 28 lakh sq. mt. of built-up area in these sectors. The government is also proposing a grant of Rs 25,000 per laborer for skill development, coupled with contributing Rs 3,000-5,000 to employers' contributions in EPFO for new textile and leather units. Subsidies in power charges are also on the table.
Bihar government is also extending invitations to investors from Japan, Taiwan, the UAE, and the US for the summit. To bolster this outreach, the state government has organized roadshows in major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Tirupur, and Chandigarh, as well as internationally in the USA, UAE, Japan, and Bangladesh.
Bihar's GDP is set for a robust growth of 8.9 percent, reaching Rs 8.59 lakh crore in the fiscal year 2023-24.
In a groundbreaking experiment with an impressive success rate of 95.7 per cent, the Sewformer project has achieved the recreation of garments from a single image. This initiative involves a two-stage AI system designed to deconstruct clothing, unraveling the origins of its diverse components and patterns. The system is currently deployed on a dataset comprising one million images featuring various garments.
Researchers highlight this innovative system empowers developers to generate digital versions of clothing using state-of-the-art technology. Users gain the ability to replicate real-world clothing seamlessly within the metaverse. Furthermore, developers can capture an image of someone in a specific outfit, reproduce the design, and then leverage it to create new and innovative styles. A comprehensive study detailing this experiment has already been uploaded to the preprint server arXiv.
India’s Commerce Ministry is planning to introduce amendments to the rules of origin (ROO) and product-specific rules (PSR) within the framework of the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). As per reports, the Ministry's objective is to modify the ROO and PSRs in a way that favors Indian industries, concurrently addressing non-tariff measures. Despite signing the agreement in 2011 with the aim of providing duty-free or low-duty market access for most goods, the CEPA has disproportionately benefited Japan, witnessing nearly doubled exports to India while India's exports have remained stagnant.
To address the challenges faced by India's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in meeting Japan's stringent non-tariff measures, particularly concerning technical standards, the CEPA is undergoing a thorough review. Japan too will concentrate on reassessing rules of origin. The Indian government intends to work closely with domestic industries to implement these changes to ROOs and PSRs, ultimately aiming to enhance market access in Japan.
India is poised to significantly boost exports of man-made fibers (MMF) by 75 per cent to $11.4 billion in 2030, up from $6.5 billion in 2021-22, with initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and free trade agreements with the UAE and Australia. A Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) report indicates this growth will primarily be fueled by increasing demand for synthetic fiber products, including curtains, drapes, interior blinds, curtain or bed valances, tents, and tarpaulins.
Globally, MMF dominates textile fiber consumption, with 72 per cent share. This share is steadily rising due to a decline in the consumption of cotton and other natural fibers. Currently, MMF products constitute approximately 55 percent of the global textile trade.
To capitalize on this growth potential, the MMF industry plans to explore new markets such as Vietnam, Japan, China, and Poland, in addition to existing markets like the US, Turkey, the UK, and Brazil. The industry aims to expand the production of filament-based woven and knitted fabrics and process more man-made yarn-based fabrics.
Bradesh Dodhia, Chairman of SRTEPC states, MMF textiles, requiring less water compared to cotton textiles, are not only more cost-effective but also align better with sustainability goals.
Multiple African nations are actively pursuing an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond its current expiration in 2025. Enacted in 2000 to promote increased trade and investment between the US and sub-Saharan Africa, AGOA has proven instrumental in enhancing trade and investment relationships between the US and several African countries, as highlighted by David Luke, an expert in African trade policy and negotiation.
Notably, countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Lesotho, Ghana, and Madagascar have experienced a substantial increase in textile and apparel exports under AGOA. For example, Kenya has witnessed a remarkable surge in AGOA-related apparel sales, rising from $55 million in 2001 to $603 million in 2022, constituting 67.6 percent of the country's total exports to the US.
Similarly, Ghana's exports to the US have grown from $206 million in 2000 to $2.76 billion in 2022, with 26 percent of this trade falling under AGOA. Ethiopia, too, has seen notable growth, with exports to the US increasing from $29 million to $525 million in 2020. Of this total, 45.3 percent falls under AGOA. The country's textile and garment exports have shown steady growth, reaching 69 percent from 2014 to 2023.
Vietnam-based fashion platform Inflow, is pioneering advancements in supply chain and manufacturing technologies, along with establishing its own research and development facilities. Securing $2 million in seed funding from notable investors such as AppWorks, 500 Global, January Capital, Spiral Ventures, and Saison Capital, Inflow aims to utilize a portion of this capital to diversify its product range. This expansion will empower brands to introduce new designs to the market within a 30-day timeframe, with a minimum order requirement of 50 pieces.
As a technology-driven sourcing and manufacturing platform, Inflow plays a crucial role in simplifying production processes and accelerating turnover time for brands. The platform leverages the production capabilities of Vietnam and Southeast Asia to address supply chain challenges in the fashion industry.
Boasting a transparent supply chain, Inflow has cultivated a production network consisting of 150 approved manufacturers and suppliers in Vietnam. In the past year, the company's revenues witnessed an extraordinary growth of over 15 times, establishing partnerships with over 80 brands across Southeast Asia.
Vietnam, with its export of garments amounting to $27.7 billion in 2023, has become a magnet for global brands. The country's appeal is further amplified by recent free trade agreements with major economic entities such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan.
