The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has launched its first Management Development Program on Environmental, Social, and Governance (MDP-ESG) to address the growing sustainability mandates from global markets like the EU and evolving national regulations. The three-day event, held at the Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA) in Mumbai, aimed to equip industry managers with essential knowledge for navigating this new landscape.
CITI Secretary General Chandrima Chatterjee and Chairman RakeshMehra led the program, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to sustainability that balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection. Mehra emphasized that the future of the textile industry hinges on integrating ESG principles into every aspect of production.This view was supported by Sunil Patwari and Siddhartha Rajagopalan of TEXPROCIL, who discussed industry adaptation to new demands.
The program featured technical sessions on environmental sustainability, human rights, and international standards. Day 1 focused on sustainable water management, chemical compliance, and life cycle assessment, with insights from experts like Bharti Birla of the International Labour Organization (ILO). On Day 2, discussions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and sustainability governance emphasized the importance of designing products with their entire lifecycle in mind.
The final day centered on the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) and Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR). The event concluded with a Certificate Distribution Ceremony, where Textile Commissioner RoopRashi praised CITI’s efforts and called for simplifying ESG compliance processes, especially for MSMEs.
Buoyed by the program's success, CITI is planning a follow-up session in Bangalore, reinforcing its commitment to steering the textile industry towards a sustainable future.
