Planet Textiles 2017 has confirmed participation of polyester textile giant Reliance Industries and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, speaking at the event. The delegates will hear a unique insight about how environmental issues are now starting to gain traction among Indian consumer from Reliance. In addition, the UK-based global charity will reveal details of a brand-new, soon-to-be-launched project on the circular economy, which relates directly to the global textile industry.

It was also confirmed this week that James Carnahan, Head of Sustainability at textile chemical specialists Archroma will lead and moderate a special breakout session on environmental issues in the wet processing sector.

Middle class consumer spending in Asia-Pacific is expected to outstrip the rest of the world in the next decade, which is fueling phenomenal growth in the Indian retail industry and is expected to result in the sector doubling in value from 2015 to 2020.

These are some of the key insights that Gunjan Sharma, CMO, Reliance Polyester Sector, which is the world’s largest integrated polyester fibre producer will give delegates at Planet Textiles 2017.

Sharma will also give an appraisal of how the company is addressing these issues through the use of carbon and water footprints and supply chain traceability as consumers in India become more aware of the environmental impacts of clothing. Reliance will also detail how it manufactures PET chips that are used to make bottles and recycles the same bottles back into textile fibres, thus in effect closing the textile loop.

It’s also been confirmed that Sven Herrmann, senior project manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation will speak to delegates at this year’s Planet Textiles Summit, which takes place on 24th May in Bangalore, India. Even will give more detail on a new project currently being put together by the UK-based international charity, which is related to the textile sector and to the circular economy.

James Carnahan, Head of Sustainability at Archroma will lead and moderate a special breakout session on environmental issues in the wet processing sector with reference to the production and use of textile chemicals and dyes and with a focus on water use and conservation.

The event is being produced in partnership with leading man-made cellulosic supplier Lenzing and is being kindly sponsored by Oeko-Tex, Covestro, ZDHC

Archroma, Bureau Veritas and Proviera. Supporters to this event include Messe Frankfurt and The Dyestuff Manufacturers Association of India.

More information on this session will complement a special breakout session by the ZDHC.