Tier 2 covers textile dyeing, treatment, and finishing facilities, which account for a significant share of pollution and emissions within the fashion supply chain.
The new guidance, available at no cost to manufacturers and brands, sets out five practical, cost-effective pathways tailored to types of products and production process, identifying the most suitable technologies, and innovative methods to achieve near-net-zero operations.
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If fully adopted, factories can achieve up to a 93% reduction in carbon emissions, a 33% reduction in water usage, and a 41% reduction in electricity consumption, said Fashion for Good.
The circular fashion initiative developed the blueprint as part of its Future Forward Factory project, designing it as a practical guide for Tier 2 textile manufacturers in India that produce cotton knits and wovens.
Each of the five decarbonisation routes incorporates detailed financial analysis, covering payback periods, internal rates of return, and net present value, to illustrate cost-effectiveness and highlight areas needing additional external support.
The document also maps relevant government incentives and includes a guide to help manufacturers choose an appropriate pathway.
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By GlobalDataFashion for Good managing director Katrin Ley said: “The Future Forward Factory blueprint removes the guesswork and delivers a pragmatic solution to a complex problem.
“By making this knowledge freely available, we are systematically dismantling the biggest barrier to decarbonisation: the lack of a clear, implementable ‘how-to.’ Every manufacturer now has access to concrete guidance and validated financial data. This is more than a roadmap; it is the essential guide for the industry’s factory transformation.”
The initiative, developed with the involvement of Arvind Mills as anchor partner in India, is backed by the Laudes Foundation, H&M Foundation, Apparel Impact Institute, IDH, Bluwin, Wazir Advisors, Grant Thornton Bharat, and Sattva Consulting.
Fashion for Good intends to work with selected Indian manufacturers to retrofit facilities using the new blueprint with assistance from Apparel Impact Institute (Aii).
Factories that take part will receive direct technical support and financial advice during implementation.
Arvind Mills sustainability senior vice president Abhishek Bansal said: “As we build this facility, we are committed to sharing what we will learn. The Future Forward Factory blueprint is proof that a holistic understanding of the decarbonisation journey can unlock an investment case and create operational efficiencies for long-term profitability. Moving from assessments to the actual deployment of solutions.”
Fashion for Good and Arvind Mills are currently exploring the set-up of the first Future Forward factory based on this model to demonstrate its viability in practice.
This site is expected to serve as an operational example for future projects in South Asia and Latin America as Fashion for Good develops location-specific blueprints tailored to regional requirements.
