CII official urges industry to adopt life cycle assessment for global sustainability compliance

The Hindu Bureau

M. Perumal, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Karur zone, has urged industry leaders to adopt life cycle assessment (LCA) practices to drive sustainable growth and help exporters meet evolving global sustainability requirements.

Speaking at a programme on “India-UK CETA & Leverage LCA for Sustainable Growth,” organised by the Textile Export Facilitation Centre (TEFC) of the Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, in Karur on Tuesday, Mr. Perumal highlighted the significance of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement. He noted that the agreement is expected to create new opportunities for increasing exports and contribute to achieving export growth targets, while also benefiting the Karur textile cluster.

He emphasised that manufacturers and exporters must adopt LCA practices and leverage them for sustainable growth, which would ultimately enable Karur exporters to meet evolving global sustainability requirements.

S. Balaji, Officer-in-Charge of the Textiles Committee, Karur, stated that the Centre has established TEFCs at six major textile clusters across India. Karur is one of these centres, with a focus on home textiles, made-up articles, and handlooms. Karur has earned a distinctive position in the global market as a leading hub for the manufacturing and export of home textile products.

He added that one of the key objectives of TEFC is to organise training and capacity-building programmes to enhance the knowledge, skills, and export competitiveness of textile stakeholders. Karur exporters were encouraged to utilise the services offered by TEFC to enhance their export capabilities and address industry-related requirements.

In a presentation, V.N. Gowrisankar, Quality Assurance Officer, Textiles Committee, Karur, said that the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) offers a significant opportunity for Indian textile exporters, particularly the Karur home textile cluster, by enabling preferential tariff access to the United Kingdom, one of India’s major export markets.

He added that effective utilisation of the agreement requires exporters to have a thorough understanding of the Rules of Origin (RoO), origin documentation procedures, and product-specific requirements. Ensuring compliance with these provisions is essential to fully benefit from tariff advantages and enhance export competitiveness in the UK market.

S. Prabhat Bhuddha Dev, Senior Programme Officer, Centre for Responsible Business; S. Pradeep Kumar, Quality Assurance Officer, Textiles Committee, Karur; and others also spoke.