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SPARC Project 1707
Co-designing Ethical Circular Economies in Textiles
(South India)

Project
Overview

Why this project matters?

The project advances circular practices in India’s textile sector through field research, stakeholder co-design, and learner engagement. Working with the Tiruppur Exporters’ Association and Fairtrade India, the team mapped value chains, identified high-impact intervention points, and co-created pilot pathways for an ethical, transparent, and resource-efficient future.

collaboration

Project Focus & Impact

Enable the transition of Tiruppur’s textile sector from a linear economy (wasteful, resource-intensive, poor labor/environmental practices) to an ethical circular economy that promotes sustainability, competitiveness, and social well-being.

Stakeholder engagement (150+ industry leaders, factory owners, workers, NGOs)

Field research and 33+ interviews with TKC stakeholders

Mapping value chains, resource flows, and sustainability gaps

Co-designing pilot projects with Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA), FairTrade India, and ASU partners.

Dissemination via workshops, seminars, research talks, international conferences, and Q1 journal publications

summary of the project

Project Title

Co-designing Innovation Pathways for the Transition from a Linear to an Ethical Circular Economy: The case of the Textile Industry in South India

Institutions

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India & Arizona State University, USA

Funding Agency

Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), Government of India(SPARC Project 1707)

Principal Investigators

Indian PI: Prof. Raghu Raman, Amrita School of Business
Indian Co-PIs: Prof. Balasubramaniam P., Prof. P. K. Viswanathan
International PI: Prof. Rimjhim Aggarwal, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University
International Co-PI: Prof. Rajesh Buch, Arizona State University

Project Operation Area

Tiruppur Knitwear Cluster (TKC), Tamil Nadu, India – the “Knitwear Capital of India,” with ~16,700 apparel enterprises employing over 500,000 people directly and indirectly serving one million people

PILOT PROJECTS
DEVELOPED

SPARC Project 1707

Digital Product Passport (DPP)
Digital Product Passport (DPP)

Aligning with EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

Sustainability Dashboarding
Sustainability Dashboarding

Tracking and certifying sustainability indicators.

GHG Emissions Inventory
GHG Emissions Inventory

Collaboration with FairTrade India for emission mapping.

Training Programs
Training Programs

Capacity building for TEA executives, managers, and workers.

Activities & Milestones (2023–2025)

Key Outcomes

  • Awareness and adoption of circular economy pathways in Tiruppur.
  • Creation of globally aligned frameworks for sustainable apparel.
  • Knowledge co-production between academia, industry, and community.
  • Strengthening India–US academic and research collaboration

about Tirupur

Tiruppur, the administrative headquarters of Tiruppur District in Tamil Nadu, is India’s powerhouse for knitted apparel. Located 448 km southwest of Chennai (11°06′ N, 70°22′ E), the city sits on the River Noyyal with the Western Ghats to the west. Spanning 159.35 sq. km at an average elevation of 295 m (967 ft), Tiruppur has grown into a fully integrated knitwear ecosystem—design, spinning, dyeing, printing, and garmenting—serving global brands across hosiery, casualwear, and sportswear.

A robust road network connects Tiruppur to major National and State Highways, enabling quick access to suppliers, ports, and domestic markets. The city’s vibrant manufacturing base employs ~300,000 workers (with a sizeable share of women), driving livelihoods and local development. Tiruppur’s reputation as the “Knitwear Capital of India” (also known as Knit City, Cotton City, and Dollar City) reflects its scale, speed, and export orientation.

sustainable-cities
At a Glance

Area: 159.35 sq. km

Elevation: 295 m

River: Noyyal

Population (2011): 877,778

Strengths: Knits, Hosiery, Casual & Sportswear

Connectivity: NH/SH road network; multimodal access

Why Tiruppur for This Project?

Tiruppur is not only a production giant—it’s a living lab for sustainable, circular transformation in textiles.

  • Proven green infrastructure: The cluster pioneered Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) in effluent treatment, recycling 120 MLD of water daily—an unprecedented scale for a textile hub.
  • Renewable energy leadership: Industry investments in wind and solar reportedly exceed local needs multiple times over, signalling a strong base for low-carbon manufacturing.
  • Circularity momentum: Decades of cluster learning have accelerated adoption of resource efficiency, water stewardship, waste minimization, and recycling—all essential to ethical circular economy pathways.
  • Market alignment: With global brands committing to net-zero and responsible sourcing, Tiruppur’s scale and systems readiness make it ideal for Digital Product Passports (DPP), sustainability dashboards, GHG accounting, and skills development.
  • Strategic partnerships: Collaboration with clusters such as Surat (for MMF capabilities) complements Tiruppur’s strengths in knitwear, enabling product diversification and resilient supply chains.
  • Export engine: Recent growth signals in RMG/knitwear underline the city’s capacity to deliver at volume while advancing sustainability goals.

MEET YOUR
TEAM

Building Pathways to a Circular Future

Prof. Raghu Raman

Dean, Amaravati Campus | Dean, School of Business

Dr. P. Balasubramanian

Professor, Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore

Dr. Viswanathan P. K.

Principal & HoS, School of Business, Amritapuri

Dr. Rimjhim Aggarwal

Professor and Deputy Director of Faculty and Staff Success, School of Sustainability, ASU

Dr. Rajesh Buch

Business Development Director, Rob & Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service, ASU

Dr. Payel Das

Assistant Professor (Sl. Gd.), Marketing |Amrita School of Business, Amaravati

Urvashi Baid

Pursuing Ph. D. on Circular Economy and Sustainability from Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore. Marketing & Communication Professional, Management Consultant, Mentoring Leadership Positions, Entrepreneur with Diverse Experience

Dr. Nava Subramaniam

Dean, School of Business, Coimbatore

Dr. Tripti Basant

Arizona State University

Timeline of Activities
(2023–2025)

  • May–July 2024: Stakeholder mapping and 30+ interviews with Tirupur Knitwear Cluster stakeholders.
    • Field visits to Tirupur textile units (factories, dyeing units, embroidery workshops).
Women Workers sorting the clothes in the Textile
In the Tirupur textile Unit
Our field researchers in the factory
Arizona State University Partners interacting with the officials of the factory
  • July 18, 2024: Research Talk at ASB
    Coimbatore (Hybrid) – ‘Designing Ethical Circular Economies: Integrating Learnings from Research, Teaching, and Practice’ by Dr. Rajesh Buch and Dr. Rimjhim Aggarwal. The talk provided a comprehensive overview of the theoretical and practical aspects of designing ethical circular economies. It emphasized the integration of research, teaching, and practice in achieving sustainability goals. The session highlighted the importance of local context, systemic thinking, future visioning, strategic planning, and self-transformation in addressing complex sustainability challenges.
  • July 19 & 22, 2024: Two stakeholder workshops at Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA), with participation from 100 industry representatives.
The workshop volunteers interacting with the stakeholder participants
Second Hands on Workshop Tirupur
Panelist of the Hands on Workshop First Day in Tirupur with Stakeholderse Hands on Workshop Second Day in Tirupur with Stakeholders
Hands on Workshop First Day in Tirupur with Stakeholders
Glimpse of the Hands on Workshop Activity
During the Hands on Workshop Activity
  • July 25, 2024: Seminar on ‘Ethical Circular Economy’ at Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore with Dr. Rajesh Buch and Dr. Rimjhim Aggarwal.
  • Sept 2024: Dr Tripti Basant presented a paper on the Tirupur Case at National Sustainability Society (NSS), National Conference “Innovation, Implementation, and Workforce Development for Sustainability” held at University of Washington Seattle  on September 9 – 11, 2024
Dr. Tripti Basant presenting the Value chain map derived from the Tirupur Case at NSS 2024 National Conference held at University of Washington
Dr. Tripti Basant presenting a paper on the Tirupur Case at NSS 2024 National Conference held at University of Washington
  • July 2, 2025: Talk on ‘Circular Economy & Sustainability’ with MBA and PhD Scholars at ASB Coimbatore.The talk underscored the importance of advancing toward a circular, inclusive, and sustainable economy, aligned with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Dr. Rajesh Buch delivering a talk on ‘Circular Economy & Sustainability’ with MBA and PhD Scholars at ASB Coimbatore on July 2, 2025
Dr. Rimjhim Aggarwal delivering a talk on ‘Circular Economy & Sustainability’ with MBA and PhD Scholars at ASB Coimbatore on July 2, 2025
Students interacting with ASU team during the talk on ‘Circular Economy & Sustainability’ with MBA and PhD Scholars at ASB Coimbatore on July 2, 2025
  • July 5, 2025: Research Seminar at ASB Amritapuri – ‘Where Learning Meets Impact: Co-Creating Sustainable Futures through Stakeholder and Student Engagement’. The seminar delved into global sustainability goals, circular economy, and the role of education in driving impactful change. As the session was in hybrid mode, professors and scholars from other schools joined the interactive session.
Research Seminar at ASB Amritapuri on July 5, 2025
Research Seminar at ASB Amritapuri on July 5, 2025
Research Seminar Participants and panel at ASB Amritapuri on July 5, 2025
  • Development of four pilot projects: Digital Product Passport (DPP), Sustainability Dashboarding, GHG Emissions Inventory, and Training Programs.
  • October 2025– Conference Presentations at University of Notre Dame
Pilot Projects & Progress
  • Digital Product Passport (DPP):Framework development in response to EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
  • Sustainability Dashboarding : Mapping certification indicators and building a Minimum Viable Product.
  • GHG Emissions Inventory: Collaboration with FairTrade India for TEA member companies.
  • Training Programs:Modular training programs for TEA executives, managers, and workers.
International & Indian Collaborations
  • International Visits: Dr. Rimjhim Aggarwal and Dr. Rajesh Buch (12 days, July 2024 and 11 days, July 2025).
  • International Student Visits: Ms. Tripti Basant (26 daysvisits May-July 2024).
  • Collaborations with Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA) and FairTrade India.
Dissemination & Publications
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