Fashion sector shares open-source blueprint for suppliers to reach ‘near net zero’

H&M-backed initiative Fashion for Good has designed an open-source blueprint to help Tier 2 textile manufacturers in India reduce emissions, as well as electricity and water use.

Aiming to tackle one of the industry’s largest sources of emissions – textile dyeing, treatment and finishing – the blueprint is free to access and offers these manufacturers five practical and financially viable pathways to reduce carbon emissions by up to 93%, water use by 33% and electricity consumption by 41%. 

Wet processes consume high amounts of water, energy, and chemicals, but manufacturers struggle to reduce pollution due to prohibitive upgrade costs, a fragmented approach, and no clear path forward.

Each pathway in the blueprint includes financial analysis of payback periods, internal rates of return, and net present value calculations to outline where additional support might be needed. The guidance also incorporates a policy landscape overview mapping available government incentives.

“The Future Forward Factory blueprint removes the guesswork and delivers a pragmatic solution to a complex problem,” said Katrin Ley, Managing Director of Fashion for Good. “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.”

Fashion decarbonisation blueprint backers

The blueprint was developed as part of the Future Forward Factories project, backed by catalytic funders Laudes Foundation and H&M Foundation, Apparel Impact Institute and IDH, and brings together energy interventions, process innovations and best-in-class technologies.

It also involves on-the-ground experts Bluwin, Wazir Advisors, Grant Thornton Bharat, and Sattva Consulting, as well as Arvind Mills as the anchor partner supporting the blueprint’s development in India.

Fashion for Good now aims to help a selected set of Indian manufacturers to retrofit their facilities with the support of this blueprint. Selected facilities will get hands-on guidance, technical expertise, and financial clarity to implement the strategy. Manufacturers interested in taking part in the programme can register their interest here. 

 “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,” added Abhishek Bansal, SVP-Sustainability at Arvind Mills.