by ABFRLadmin | June 7, 2024
As the world celebrates World Oceans Day, ABFRL proudly hoists its sails, navigating the seas of sustainability with a commitment to preserving our planet’s greatest treasure.
How do we approach this massive responsibility? By amplifying our focus on eliminating what is probably one of the greatest threats to our water bodies – plastic waste. From circular initiatives to sustainable packaging, folks across the ABFRL sphere have explored a wide range of solutions to tackle this looming threat. And the results, as you may guess, are undoubtedly noteworthy.
Let’s dive deeper to uncover the details of these big blue initiatives.
Charting A Sustainable Course With GIZ Germany
Our collaboration with GIZ Germany is steered towards aiding the preservation of oceans. By focusing on developing sustainable materials, we are reducing our dependency on resources that harm our counterparts that dwell in the oceans. The initiative to reduce harmful substances directly impacts the health of our oceans, ensuring fewer toxic chemicals find their way into the water.
The drive to increase textile recycling helps minimise waste, preventing discarded fabrics from polluting the seas. Creating plastic alternatives is a crucial step in battling the widespread issue of oceanic plastic pollution, offering solutions that are kinder to our marine ecosystems.
In addition to this, enhancing traceability ensures that every step of our supply chain is monitored, reducing the chances of environmental negligence. These coupled with stronger circular practices and promotion of sustainable production across the industry has helped to ensure fewer pollutants entering our waterways.
This partnership has also pioneered the creation of ‘Voluntary Circular Business Guidelines’ for the Indian textile industry. These guidelines serve as a lighthouse, guiding the industry towards practices that prioritise the health of our oceans. By setting voluntary standards, we aim to encourage other industry players to adopt sustainable practices, collectively reducing the textile industry’s impact on marine environments.
Packaging For The Waves
Our revolutionary packaging solutions have contributed significantly towards preserving the health of our water bodies. We have introduced compostable plastic bags as a substitute for traditional HDPE/PP polybags. These compostable bags, made from the very nature-friendly
PLA-based materials, break down into natural elements under certain conditions, significantly reducing their impact on marine life.
Our goal to eliminate plastic use in packaging by a specified target year underscores our dedication to preserving our oceans. Since 2013, we have been diligently increasing the percentage of non-pollutant packaging materials. Starting at 86.9% in FY19, we have steadily risen to 91.5% in FY23. This milestone reflects our successful implementation of sustainable practices geared towards the betterment of our oceans.
Navigating Plastic Pollution With EPR
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a cornerstone of our efforts to combat oceanic plastic pollution. Through EPR, our brands collect post-consumer plastic waste on a state-by-state basis, ensuring it is recycled through transparent and traceable channels. This proactive approach guarantees that plastic waste does not end up in landfills or, worse, our oceans.
Our brands, including MFL Lifestyle Brands and TASVA, have made substantial strides in reducing plastic use. By converting major pollutant materials like polybags and butterfly clips to bio-compostable alternatives, we have minimised our environmental footprint. Initiatives like “One Product, One Hang Tag” further reduce plastic waste, contributing to healthier marine ecosystems.
Recycled Materials: Waves Of Renewal
Incorporating recycled materials into our products is akin to riding the waves of renewal. By using recycled polyester fibres from PET bottle waste, we are promoting a closed-loop production cycle, reducing dependency on virgin polyester and lessening the burden on our oceans. Each recycled thread woven into our garments represents our commitment to a more sustainable future, where the oceans are protected from plastic pollution.
Using Birla Modal, derived from 100% renewable natural resources in women’s wear, further enhances our efforts to preserve the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
Setting Sail Towards SDG Alignment
As we navigate the vast expanse of sustainability, we align our journey with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Responsible consumption and production guide our course, ensuring that our practices do not harm our oceans. By adopting sustainable raw materials and technologies that reduce our environmental footprint, we are steadily contributing to cleaner and healthier seas.
Do Your Bit
While our collective efforts have placed us at the forefront of sustainability in fashion, it is important to remember that protecting our oceans is not just about grand initiatives and corporate responsibility, it is also about the small everyday actions we can all take as individuals.
Here are a few ways you can do your bit to save the oceans:
By incorporating these simple actions into your daily routines, each of us can play a part in safeguarding our oceans. Remember, every small action contributes to a larger wave of change.
Our individual actions, combined with our steady sustainable practices at ABFRL can help us move closer to a future where our oceans thrive, teeming with life and beauty. Together, we can chart a course towards a brighter, bluer future for generations to come.
