The CTL program aspires to
achieve a balance between improving the textile and apparel industry’s
environmental footprint while delivering social impact.
Alwaleed
Philanthropies “Global” has partnered with Circular Apparel Innovation Factory
(CAIF), an Intellecap initiative, and Enviu, a leading venture-building studio,
in pioneering a groundbreaking approach to textile waste management in India.
With an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste generated globally each
year, the Circular Textile Waste Management (CTWM) program, led by Alwaleed
Philanthropies ‘Global” aims to create sustainable solutions that address
environmental challenges while empowering communities across the country.
Last week,
CAIF and Enviu were delighted to host Alwaleed Philanthropies’ team in
Bengaluru for an insightful visit to experience the impact of the `Closing the
Loop on Textiles Waste’ (CTL) program. The visit covered an in-person tour of
the Textile Recovery Facility (TRF), a hub for aggregating, sorting, and
selling textile waste in Bengaluru, recently established by CAIF with support
from Hasiru Dala, the ground implementation partner.
The team also
explored the collaborative 'skills-as-a-service' model with Sambhav Foundation
and Twirl Store (an upcycler), focused on unlocking circular job opportunities
for waste pickers by building their skills and creating market linkages.
Enviu's
venture ReTex's work was showcased with a visit to a hotel from where ReTex
collects uniforms and linen waste in collaboration with Krishna, a waste
entrepreneur under the CTL program, who manages the local Dry Waste Collection
Centre (DWCC). The field visit ended with a tour of the DWCC to understand how
ReTex is adding value to the collected textile waste.
A live virtual
tour of the Kerala TRF and Thrift Store and interactions with waste workers
offered a comprehensive view of the impactful work on the ground. During the
visit, Reem Mallawi, Executive Manager for Global Initiatives, Alwaleed
Philanthropies “Global,” said: "Transforming textile waste into
opportunity goes beyond sustainability; it reclaims value, empowers lives, and
fosters a circular economy where every thread matters. This project builds
ventures that participate in the Circular Textile Waste Management (CTWM)
initiative, creating lasting impact through scalable business models while
accelerating two ventures within this framework. Falling under the pillar of
Supporting a Healthier Environment, we concentrate on creating environmentally
conscious communities, enhancing resource management, and promoting clean
energy. Together, we can weave a future that honours both our planet and its
people, fostering a cleaner and greener world for everyone."
A
dynamic partnership driving change
This
partnership is set to redefine textile waste management in the textile
industry. CAIF, an Intellecap initiative focuses on ecosystem and capacity
building, replicating the Circular Textiles Waste Management (CTWM) model
across India by establishing hyper local textile waste recovery facilities
powered by waste pickers. Simultaneously, Enviu leads the creation of innovative
business models that transform post-consumer textile waste into high-quality,
commercially viable products. These initiatives not only foster circularity but
also create fair employment opportunities, underscoring our commitment to a
sustainable and equitable future.
Empowering
communities and scaling across India
CAIF, through
its ecosystem and capacity building approach, is currently replicating the CTWM
model across the country by establishing a network of hyper local textile waste
recovery facilities powered by waste pickers. They have successfully
implemented the CTWM model in four cities and twelve towns across Kerala and
the National Capital Region (NCR) in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies
“Global”.
This expansion
has been achieved in close partnership with grassroots organisations; Green
Worms in Kerala and Saahas Zero Waste in NCR. Together, they have diverted
270,000 kilograms of post-consumer textile waste, directly involving 281 waste
workers in operations and providing training to 350 more, 96% of whom are
women.
“For us,
intent is prime. We are conceptualising and building the CTL program with waste
picker communities in mind, who, despite their contributions to waste
management, contend with intergenerational poverty. We are extremely thankful
to Alwaleed Philanthropies for their support,” said Venkat Kotamaraju, Partner
& Director, Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF), Intellecap.
Innovating
for the future
Enviu's
systemic approach to building circular business ventures leverages its
expertise in crafting innovative models that tackle key challenges throughout
the textile value chain. With Alwaleed Philanthropies’ support, they have
integrated rigorous analysis and ideation sprints to develop scalable ventures
that have the potential to reshape the textile industry and create jobs and
income streams for the waste pickers.
Notably, Enviu’s
current ventures have diverted 990,000 kgs of waste, transforming them into
innovative products. The Good Felt and ReTex, exemplify this impact. The Good
Felt repurposes post-consumer textile waste into high-quality felt, used in
fashion accessories, acoustic panels, and packaging. While ReTex focuses on
repurposing end-of-life hotel linens, extending the life cycle of textiles that
would otherwise end up in landfills.
“We designed
the Closing-the-Loop program with a systemic approach to drive change across
the textile supply chain. Alwaleed Philanthropies' support has been
instrumental in turning our vision into reality. Together, we are addressing
the environmental challenges and building an equitable future for people. We
are creating dignified work for waste pickers, offering fair opportunities to
thrive while solving urgent problems for the planet," said Gigi Mathews, Regional
Director of Partnerships at Enviu.
The continued
efforts to build the CTL program by CAIF and Enviu, backed by Alwaleed
Philanthropies, hold the potential to serve as a blueprint for others in the
industry to follow, demonstrating how environmental responsibility and social
impact can go hand in hand.
Alwaleed
Philanthropies
Over four
decades, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and spent more than US$ 4.4
billion on social welfare and initiated more than 1000 projects in over 190
countries and reached more than 1 billion beneficiaries around the world,
regardless of gender, race, or religion. Managed by 10 Saudi women, Alwaleed
Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and
nongovernmental organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth,
develop communities, provide disaster relief, and create cultural understanding
through education. It seeks to build bridges for a more compassionate,
tolerant, and accepting the world.
Circular
Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF):
Circular
Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF), an Intellecap initiative, in collaboration
with Anchor Partners, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail ltd. and The DOEN
Foundation, is an industry-led and industry-facing platform born with a
singular purpose of helping build a planet and people positive textiles and
apparel industry. CAIF’s thinking and work focuses on building ecosystems and
capabilities that help decarbonise the industry, get to zero-leakage of
textiles waste into the environment, stop leakage of single-use plastics into
the environment and securing a thriving future for the millions of workers
employed across the textiles and apparel value chain through creation of green
and circular jobs at scale.
CAIF is
designing and shaping work in the key global south economies incl. South Asia,
SE Asia and East Africa, which play a critical role in the complex global value
chain.
Enviu
With an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste generated globally each year, the Circular Textile Waste Management (CTWM) program, led by Alwaleed Philanthropies ‘Global” aims to create sustainable solutions that address environmental challenges while empowering communities across the country
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