In a major step towards sustainable trade, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the Fair Wear Foundation have launched a program to assist Indian textile exporters in meeting the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Enacted in May 2024, this directive mandates rigorous human rights and environmental due diligence across global supply chains.

CITI recently held its third workshop, ‘Advancing Sustainable and Responsible Business Practices,’ in Mumbai, where industry leaders discussed compliance strategies for the CSDDD, chemical regulations, and human rights due diligence. CITI Secretary General Chandrima Chatterjee highlighted the significance of the CSDDD for Indian exporters, emphasizing the need to integrate with global sustainability frameworks to maintain competitiveness.

Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director of TEXPROCIL, noted the shift from voluntary sustainability to mandatory compliance, underscoring the benefits of aligning with global standards. Mousumi Sarangi, India Country Manager for Fair Wear Foundation, urged companies to view compliance as a proactive strategy to improve working conditions, blending profitability with accountability.

Insights were also shared by Annabel Meurs, Associate Director at Fair Wear Foundation, on navigating CSDDD complexities, and Drashti Patel, Regulatory Manager at Global Product Compliance, who addressed the importance of chemical compliance and transparency.

The event, supported by TEXPROCIL and AEPC, concluded with an interactive Q&A session, reinforcing CITI’s role in steering India’s textile industry towards responsible, sustainable growth.