New Delhi: The Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, today officially launched a report titled "Carbon Footprint Assessment in the Indian Handloom Sector," jointly prepared by the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, the Ministry of Textiles, and the Department of Textiles & Fibre Engineering, IIT Delhi. 

The report was launched in the presence of Shri. Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for Textiles; Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles; Prof. R. Alagirusamy, Head, Dept. of Textiles and Fibre Engineering, IIT Delhi; Prof. Bipin Kumar, Dept. of Textile and Fibre Engineering, IIT Delhi; Prof. Ashwini Agrawal, Dean of R&D, IIT Delhi.

The project was led by IIT Delhi’s Prof. Bipin Kumar and involved extensive consultations and collaboration with experts from the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Weaver Service Centres, grassroots weaver groups, Greenstitch Private Limited, and key government agencies. 

Speaking at the launch, Shri Giriraj Singh emphasized, “Real progress in sustainability requires measuring the carbon impact at every stage of textile production. Without quantifying data at each step, it’s impossible to pinpoint areas for improvement or gauge the effectiveness of our actions.” 

The handloom sector is a vital part of the rural and semi-rural economy, engaging over 3.5 million people, including more than 2.5 million female weavers and allied workers, making it a significant driver of women’s economic empowerment.

This landmark document strengthens the Government of India’s commitment to environmentally conscious handloom production and sustainable development by providing clear, practical methodologies to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of the handloom industry—a vital socio-economic sector and a symbol of India’s rich cultural heritage.

The report (https://shorturl.at/gzXY1) offers straightforward steps for measuring carbon footprints through real-world case studies from across India, covering products such as cotton bedsheets, floor mats, Ikat sarees, Banarasi sarees, and several other iconic handloom items. It also details cost-effective data collection and emissions measurement techniques tailored specifically for the handloom sector, aimed at enhancing eco-friendly production practices.

Prof. Bipin Kumar stressed the importance of engaging all stakeholders to understand carbon footprint assessment within the sector and to identify critical hotspots where effective mitigation measures can be implemented. 

The report integrates global climate reporting standards tailored to India’s unique operational context, empowering the handloom sector to achieve sustainable growth. This initiative will enable artisans and local units to assess their carbon footprints through simple steps, facilitating their participation in the carbon trading market and the promotion of sustainable handloom products.

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