The textile sector is one of the world’s largest manufacturing industries; it generates 1.5 trillion dollars in revenue, providing high levels of employment, with roughly 1 out of 8 workers in the world working in textile and related sectors, according to reports
However, it is also a sector struggling to address its contribution to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, ecosystem degradation, and pollution.
A shift to sustainable textiles offers a promising solution to this critical sector. A transformation towards circular textile business models could generate $700 billion in economic value by 2030, while each 1% increase in market share of circular business models is likely to reduce emissions by 13 million tons of CO2 globally, according to studies by the Ellen Macarthur foundation
In Pakistan, UNEP is working with relevant stakeholders to shift the nation’s textile value chain towards circularity, promote sustainable trade, and promote socio-economic development.
GO4SDGs and SPDI have jointly organized a roundtable discussion at the SDPI’s 26th sustainable development conference in Pakistan. The event will take a step towards mainstreaming circularity in Pakistan’s textile value chain by looking at key challenges and potential policy and business solutions, the economic benefits and job opportunities that circularity will bring to the textile sector, and the collaborative efforts needed to move forward on this agenda.