Sustainability fuelling Tiruppur’s vision for long-term growth

Tiruppur, India’s thriving knitwear hub and accounting for 55 per cent of the country’s total knitwear export, is making waves as it pioneers sustainable practices across every facet of operations, showcasing a remarkable commitment to environmental stewardship and resource efficiency.

Tiruppur cluster collectively treats 130 million litres of effluent daily, achieving 96 per cent water recycling and reuse rate. In the past nine years, TEA planted around 2.2 million trees and rejuvenated 13 to 14 lakes. The cluster also boasts a green energy capacity of 1,950 MW, including 1,600 MW from wind power and 350 MW from solar power.

“Tiruppur stands as the world’s sole environmentally and socially governed textile cluster,” claimed N Thirukkumaran, general secretary of the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), speaking to Fibre2Fashion. He highlighted that it is “the only cluster globally to achieve zero liquid discharge.”

At the heart of these efforts is the revolutionary implementation of first-of-its-kind Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system. With 18 Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) catering to 300 units and 60 Individual Effluent Treatment Plants (IETPs), the cluster collectively treats 130 million litres of effluent daily, achieving 96 per cent water recycling and reuse rate.

“About 12 to 15 years ago, excessive water usage had caused the groundwater level to drop drastically. Now, it has been restored to 100 feet,” shared M Anand, chairman of the Branding Sustainability & Business Promotion Subcommittee (TEA). He further highlighted, “In the past nine years, we have planted around 2.2 million trees and rejuvenated 13 to 14 lakes, including Nanjulai Lake, which has been recognised as Tamil Nadu’s 17^th bird sanctuary.”

These trees contribute to carbon sequestration, absorbing more than 7,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and accumulating 4,000 metric tons of biomass annually.

It may be mentioned here that the cluster also boasts a green energy capacity of 1,950 MW, including 1,600 MW from wind power and 350 MW from solar power.

“As a cluster, we generate 1,950 megawatts of renewable energy, while our consumption stands at just 350 megawatts,” highlighted KM Subramanian, president of TEA, adding, “the surplus 1,600 megawatts is supplied to the Tamil Nadu grid, with 650 megawatts being utilised by the Tiruppur district and rest by other districts of the state.”

This helped Tiruppur to reduce dependence on conventional energy significantly even as circularity, which lies at the core the of its journey, positioned Tiruppur as a leader in sustainability endeavours. Textile waste, including cutting leftovers, is ingeniously recycled into yarn, which is then used to produce new fabrics and garments.

A major exporting unit, Sulochana Cotton spinning Mills Pvt Ltd, transforms approximately 5.5 million PET bottles daily into recycled polyester staple fibre, producing 100 tons of fibre in 50 dope-dyed colour variants without using a single drop of water for dyeing.

Tiruppur’s environmental initiatives extend beyond factories, a burning example of which is the planting of over two million trees across the district. Efficient water conservation practices such as push taps, water monitoring metres, sewage treatment plants, and sprinkler systems ensure minimal water wastage, while rainwater harvesting techniques provide a substantial water supply, often meeting up to six months of factory requirements in a single heavy downpour.

TEA plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainability. Through its various efforts, the trade body promotes inclusivity and sustainable practices among MSMEs in the region, including workshops on carbon emissions monitoring, GHG reduction, chemical inventory management, and wastewater management, which have already benefitted 150 to 200 factories per session, offered at no cost to the participants.

Looking ahead, TEA has ambitious plans to designate sustainability experts in every exporting factory, trained through a year-long programme, who will be equipped to implement eco-friendly practices, creating new green jobs and fostering a more environmentally responsible industry.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)