Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.’s (ABFRL) manufacturing factory Fashion Craft Ltd has been awarded TRUE Zero Waste Gold certification by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). It is the first industrial manufacturing unit in India and the second worldwide to receive this certification. The factory uses a novel waste management strategy that promotes sustainable resource management and waste reduction practices – which contribute to positive environmental, health, and economic outcomes.

The factory has implemented a variety of sustainability measures, including Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, diversion of waste from landfills, sustainable packaging, in-house composting, zero-waste purchasing, and hazardous waste prevention. There is a strong emphasis on redesigning, innovation, and employee training in these aspects.

ABFRL embarked on its sustainability journey ‘ReEarth – For Our Tomorrow’ with a focus on operations, to restore the balance between natural resources and business ecosystems. The company aims to meet ambitious sustainability targets and business objective while balancing risks and opportunities for all relevant ESG initiatives. This transition will embed sustainability throughout the spectrum of design, development, supply chain and end-of-use for product life cycle thinking and circular approach.

Commented Dr. Naresh Tyagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, ABFRL, “ESG considerations are important for our operational efficiencies to develop new products and source materials. ABFRL’s sustainability vision, ‘Re-Earth’ is to give back more than what we take from our ecosystem, and constantly work to ‘Regenerate, Restore, and Revitalize’ ecosystems and communities that we operate in. At ABFRL, we believe that such initiatives allow us to establish ourselves as leaders in the sustainable fashion industry while also creating long-term value for our stakeholders.”

“Fashion Craft Ltd has set a worthy example of how a manufacturing plant can adopt sustainable solutions,” said Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia & Middle East of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) India. “The TRUE Zero Waste Gold certification for a manufacturing unit is a rare distinction, and we hope that many others across India will follow. GBCI India is dedicated to working with organizations to ensure long-term viability of projects throughout the country.”

TRUE Zero Waste certification is awarded to facilities that define, pursue, and achieve zero waste goals, as well as reduce their carbon footprint and support recycling and extended use of materials. It rewards spaces and facilities that achieve the highest ratings for minimizing waste to landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy), and for protecting the environment.