Sustainable & Eco-friendly textiles: A comprehensive analysis of consumer behavior, dye sustainability, upcycling, and circular fashion in India

Abstract

The textile sector is one of the highest polluters around the world, accounting for nearly 10% of the carbon emissions worldwide and more than 92 million tonnes of textile waste each year. The transition to sustainability is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic opportunity in India, where textile practices are intertwined with cultural and economic fabric. This paper explores four interlinked aspects of sustainable textiles in India: awareness of the consumers about sustainable fashion, environmental impacts of natural and synthetic dyes, upcycling as a waste reduction strategy and overview of the role of circular fashion in increasing sustainability in textiles. Survey data was gathered from 320 respondents in both urban and semi-urban areas of India, and secondary data gathered from industry reports, government publications and academic literature. The results show that there is growing awareness of sustainable fashion, especially among younger consumers, but not enough consumers have actually adopted the label as it is difficult to access, costly and they do not have enough information. Natural dyes have environmental benefits, but are limited in scale and commercial availability. Upcycling offers possibilities in waste reduction and micro entrepreneurism, while circular fashion offers great potential for systemic industry change in the long term. The study finally presents the recommendations for policy makers, industry stakeholders and consumers to ensure sustainable textile ecosystem in India.