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The Textile Industry’s Transition to Green Practices for a Sustainable Planet
A green supply chain is crucial for the textile industry because it aligns with environmental and social responsibilities, meets consumer expectations, reduces costs, and enhances competitiveness. It is not only a way to address environmental concerns but also a strategic approach to thriving in a changing business landscape.
What is Green Supply Chain Management?
Supply chain management is the integration of key business processes from end users to key suppliers that provide products, services and information that add value to customers and other stakeholders. A green supply chain in the textile industry refers to a supply chain management approach that focuses on reducing the environmental impact of producing and distributing textiles and clothing. This approach takes into account the entire lifecycle of textile products, from the sourcing of raw materials to manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and end-of-life disposal. The primary goal of a green supply chain in textiles is to minimize negative environmental effects while still meeting consumer demand for clothing and textiles.
Why is Green Supply Chain Important for Textile Industry?
A green supply chain is important for the textile industry for several reasons:
Environmental Impact Reduction: The textile industry is known for its significant environmental footprint, including water consumption, chemical usage, and waste generation. Implementing green supply chain practices helps reduce these negative environmental impacts, contributing to sustainability and the preservation of natural resources.
Regulatory Compliance: Many countries are implementing stricter environmental regulations, such as restrictions on hazardous chemicals and emissions. A green supply chain helps textile companies comply with these regulations, avoiding fines and legal issues.
Consumer Demand: Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental and ethical aspects of the products they purchase. Textile companies with green supply chains can meet this growing demand for eco-friendly and socially responsible products, potentially gaining a competitive advantage.
Brand Reputation: Adopting green practices in the supply chain can enhance a company's brand reputation. Consumers are more likely to trust and support businesses that prioritize sustainability and ethical practices, leading to stronger brand loyalty.
Cost Savings: Many green supply chain practices, such as energy and water efficiency measures, waste reduction, and lean manufacturing, can lead to cost savings in the long run. Companies can reduce operational expenses while achieving sustainability goals.
Risk Mitigation: Green supply chain management can help reduce risks associated with supply chain disruptions, such as those caused by climate change impacts or regulatory changes. Diversifying suppliers and sourcing from regions less vulnerable to climate-related risks can improve resilience.
Innovation and Differentiation: Embracing sustainability encourages innovation in product design, manufacturing processes, and materials. This innovation can lead to the development of unique, eco-friendly products that stand out in the market.
Long-Term Viability: Sustainable practices in the textile industry can extend the lifespan of resources, such as water, energy, and raw materials, ensuring the long-term viability of the industry in a resource-constrained world.
Access to Markets: Some markets and retailers have strict sustainability requirements for suppliers. By adopting green supply chain practices, textile companies can gain access to these lucrative markets and customers.
Supply Chain Efficiency: Implementing green practices often involves optimizing supply chain operations, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency. This can lead to streamlined processes, shorter lead times, and improved overall performance.How Our Industries Can Benefit from Green Supply Chain Management?
Green supply chain management is not only about mitigating the environmental impact of the supply chain; it can also offer value-driven opportunities for growth and innovation.
Its key benefits include:
Higher efficiency of resources.
Create flexibility in operation.
Less waste storage and production.
Ensure logistics management.
Reduction of production costs through recycling and reuse of raw materials.
Compliance with international policies and standards.
Positive brand image as consumer support for sustainability increases.
Reduction in energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Manufacturing
What Practices are Needed to Implement GSCM in textile manufacturer countries?
Life Cycle Assessment: Green product design is always done by considering environmental performance assessment throughout a product’s life cycle, from its raw material production to disposal after use.
Green Manufacturing: Establishing a green manufacturing process aims to reduce the use of toxic chemicals, eliminate carbon emissions, reduce environmental pollution, reduce waste and reuse products. The most important component of going green at this stage is reducing energy use.
Green packaging: Green packaging considers every step of the package’s life cycle. This includes everything from the source of the supplier to how the consumer disposes of the packaging. The use of biodegradable materials, returnable, reusable and recyclable packaging are essential features of green packaging.
Green Purchasing: Green purchasing, which means finding suppliers of environmentally sustainable products and services. Materials must be sustainably sourced raw materials or recycled or remanufactured materials, on which the rest of the supply chain depends.
Green design: All processes must be designed as environmentally friendly in order to reduce negative impacts, reduce resource consumption, increases the use of renewable materials and components.
Green Transportation: According to the EPA, transportation accounted for 28.2 percent of 2018 greenhouse gas emissions. To make transportation greener, goods must be consolidated to reduce the total number of air freight shipments or truck trips. Investments can also be made in electric trucks or alternative fuel trucks. And rail transport cannot be ignored, providing an efficient and environmentally friendly solution.
Green Marketing: This concept deals with the entire supply chain to promote products, production processes, manufacturing industries and markets. Green marketing can also be successful by releasing a large number of environmentally friendly products in the market and encouraging consumers to buy environmentally friendly products.
References:
https://textilefocus.com/green-supply-chain-management-in-textile-industry/
https://fashion2apparel.com/supply-chain-management-in-textile-and-apparel-industry/
https://textilelearner.net/supply-chain-management-in-textile-and-fashion-industry/
https://commons.wmu.se/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2478&context=all_dissertations
