Fashion for Good and Arvind Limited have launched the Future Forward Factories India initiative, a major push to reshape the future of sustainable textile production. This joint effort includes the development of an open-source blueprint for transforming Tier 2 textile manufacturing and the construction of an innovative physical facility in Gujarat. The project aims to demonstrate how cutting-edge technologies and practices can significantly reduce environmental impact while maintaining commercial viability.

Pioneering near net-zero textile production

At the heart of the initiative is a new physical facility by Arvind in Gujarat, focused on cotton woven and knit production. Designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 93 per cent compared to conventional operations, the facility will integrate renewable energy, advanced processing technologies, and water-saving systems. It is projected to save approximately 60 litres of water per kilogram of fabric and operate as the textile industry’s first near net-zero production centre. The facility represents a significant investment in demonstrating the feasibility of sustainable manufacturing at scale, pending support through viability gap funding from industry stakeholders.

Open-source blueprint for industry-wide adoption

Alongside the physical facility, Future Forward Factories will deliver a modular, open-source blueprint for sustainable Tier 2 textile manufacturing. Tier 2 facilities, which account for over half of the industry’s carbon dioxide emissions and most of its water and chemical usage, are often overlooked in sustainability efforts. The blueprint addresses multiple environmental and social goals: integrating renewable energy, minimising water use, achieving ZDHC Level 3 chemical compliance, improving wastewater quality, and ensuring a Just Transition for workers as new technologies are introduced.

The blueprint will be publicly released in September 2025 and is designed for industry-wide adoption, offering a practical and scalable roadmap for factories seeking to transition to low-impact operations. It also explores the commercial feasibility of these operations by identifying subsidy, grant, and incentive mechanisms that can help close the viability gap.

Global collaboration to accelerate impact

The initiative is backed by catalytic funders including Laudes Foundation, Apparel Impact Institute, and IDH, and supported by on-ground partners such as Bluwin, Wazir Advisors, Grant Thornton Bharat, and Sattva Consulting. These organisations will collaborate to provide technical expertise and actionable insights to ensure the project’s success.

Launching at the Global Fashion Summit 2025, Future Forward Factories aims to catalyse systemic change across the industry. "We are taking decisive action to catalyse transformation through both knowledge-sharing and practical implementation," said Katrin Ley, Managing Director of Fashion for Good. “By targeting Tier 2 manufacturing, we can demonstrate real-world solutions that drive impact at scale.”

Arvind’s Vice Chairman Punit Lalbhai echoed the ambition, saying, "As a leader in the textile sector, Arvind is committed to pioneering sustainable manufacturing. This initiative will show how these technologies can be implemented at scale to address the industry’s biggest environmental challenges."

Future Forward Factories is also calling on other suppliers to collaborate in developing additional blueprints for diverse manufacturing setups, expanding the industry’s ability to scale sustainable practices globally.