Albert Einstein famously said, ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’ This insight couldn’t be more relevant in global efforts to decarbonize. For the fashion industry— responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions; a major problem to solve is halving its emissions in the next five years. With up to 80% of those emissions coming from supply chains, manufacturers like Shahi bear the heaviest responsibility. Accelerating progress on these fronts will require new ways of thinking and working.
How do manufacturing companies lead this transition while navigating financial risks and technological challenges?
This article explores the steps we are taking toward renewable energy and how collaboration between brands and stakeholders is key to unlocking sustainable solutions.
Breaking down energy consumption in manufacturing
Our operations rely on two types of energy: electrical and thermal. Electrical energy powers daily activities, while thermal energy, mainly from boilers, generates steam and hot water for processes like dyeing and finishing fabrics.
At Shahi, 81% of our energy comes from thermal energy due to our large textile operations, with the rest coming from electricity. While renewable electricity has been the industry’s primary focus, phasing out fossil-fuel-based thermal energy in textile production is where the biggest impact of decarbonization lies.
Toward 100% renewable electricity at Shahi
Over the past decade, we’ve invested heavily in renewable electricity, reaching 65% renewable energy for our operations. Supported by favorable government policies, in 2018, we strategically invested in two solar plants with a combined 84 MW capacity and 8.75 MW of wind power in Karnataka. These plants generate 130 million kWh annually, cutting over 610,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions since 2018. This year, we’re expanding with a 40 MW solar project in Karnataka and smaller ones in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, bringing our renewable capacity to 151 MW.
Driven by our commitment to sustainability, we are working toward 100% renewable electricity by 2027.
Phasing out coal in our operations
By 2022, we successfully transitioned all our garment factories from coal to biomass. The greater challenge lies in our textile mills, which require hundreds of tons of coal daily to operate. The UN The Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action mandates that brands should not onboard any new factories and mills that use coal. This significantly accelerates the timeline for phasing out coal set by the Paris Agreement, which permits non-OECD countries until 2040. However, the Charter also states that brands should establish engagement and incentive programs to support their suppliers’ transition from coal. Thus making collaboration and a willingness to share risks essential.
We are addressing this by rapidly increasing biomass use, a carbon-neutral alternative. One of our mills has been 100% coal-free since December 2023, and two will be 50% coal-free by January 2025.
Challenges of decarbonizing thermal energy
Replacing coal with biomass as a fuel source requires substantial upfront investments from suppliers. For each of our 50 factories and 3 textile mills, we’ve invested substantially in biomass-enabled systems, including Atmospheric Fluidized Combustion (AFBC) boilers, Thermopac systems with electrostatic precipitators to capture fine particles, expanded biomass storage facilities, and automated ash handling plants to reduce health risks.
Sourcing and handling biomass also present challenges. Building a reliable supplier network is crucial to mitigate seasonal fuel fluctuations and ensure a steady supply chain. In India, like most of the world, biomass is still an informal industry compared to coal, which is well-established. To address the challenge of the biomass supply chains, we’re collaborating with biomass aggregators and experts to assess local agricultural waste availability. Our goal is to vertically integrate our biomass supply.
This, however, would be a temporary solution that will need replacing with more sustainable options, requiring additional investments in the future. We are excited by upcoming technologies such as green hydrogen, electric boilers, and heat pumps.
A study in India shows that electric boilers and heat pumps are capital-intensive and are likely to increase the cost of operations, driven by the price of electricity, which is higher than the current fuel prices per unit of energy. While the return on investment for these technologies is yet to be determined, and given that textiles is a low-margin industry, manufacturers need government and brand incentives to help switch to newer, cleaner technologies. Further, to drive emissions down further, it’s important that the national grid procures increasing amounts of clean electricity and shifts away from fossil fuels overall.
Collaboration as a catalyst for change
While the major impact of climate change lies in the supply chain, the entire value chain, including brands and other important stakeholders, must share responsibility for climate action. Collaboration with brands and stakeholders is key to reducing the risks of transitioning away from fossil fuels and creating innovative solutions that can be scaled and adopted.
First, it is crucial to accelerate R&D to find alternatives to biomass. Decarbonization isn’t just a fashion industry issue; it’s a global challenge that requires cross-industry collaboration. For example, we can learn from the tech industry, which is adopting renewables as its energy demand increases significantly with the rise of AI.
Second, sharing the financial burden requires not only brand support but also financial institutions. Manufacturers can benefit from funding for higher-risk, long-term investments, such as infrastructure changes needed for climate adaptation that go beyond debt.
Finally, reimagining suppliers as value-adding co-creators rather than just implementers ensures sustainability strategies align more closely with real-world operations.
By aligning goals, pooling resources, and fostering transparent partnerships, we can develop scalable, unified solutions to decarbonize the industry.
We are excited to launch the third edition of our sustainability report, ‘Moving the Needle: Adapt, Impact, Inspire.’ In FY 2023-24, we focused on adapting to change, driving impact, and inspiring efforts across the value chain.
This year, we have deepened our dedication to sustainable practices for both people and the planet. We’re advancing environmentally conscious actions across our operations to ensure a circular value chain.
Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability at Shahi Exports, said,
“The Sustainability Report has allowed us to track our progress more closely and reflect on both our immediate and long-term strategies. Many of the sustainability challenges the industry faces require innovative solutions, and the data in this report enable us to better understand where to accelerate our innovation efforts and where we are making measurable progress.”
Key highlights from the report:
TO ADAPT:
Our journey of adaptation aligns with industry shifts and environmental sensitivities, leading to strategic enhancements in governance and operations:
Established a dedicated governance team in FY 2023-24 to uphold accountability.
Partnering with next-gen material and dry processing innovators. We ensured that 50% of the materials we use fall under the sustainable category.
Adapted to the evolving legislative landscape as our Knits Processing Division became one of India’s first mills to undergo the Yarn Ethically and Sustainably Sourced Assessment.
Scaling our flagship digitization project, ‘Trakwel’, across factories.
TO IMPACT:
Our efforts aim to create a positive impact on our workforce, communities, and the planet. In FY 2023-24, we implemented key initiatives to enhance sustainability and social responsibility, achieving meaningful outcomes:
People:
Achieved 106% of our STITCH program supervisor training goal.
Reached 106% of our goal to train women in Gap Inc. P.A.C.E.
Surpassed training goals with 110% completion in BSafe- Grievance Redressal Mechanism awareness.
Reached 98% of skill development targets with local communities.
Reached 20,590 mothers and children under our Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition services, meeting 137% of our goal.
Introduced EWASE (Empowering Women at Shahi Exports) to champion gender equality and support women in advancing to leadership roles.
Planet:
Achieved 100% coal phase-out in one of our mills.
Scored 68.92% of verified Higg FEM Index Version 4.0 score against a global avg of 48.08%.
Achieved 78% recycled water usage for industrial purposes in our textile mills
100% of the dyes and auxiliaries used in our production processes are ZDHC MRSL compliant.
Achieved a CDP score of ‘B’ compared to the global average of ‘C’.
TO INSPIRE:
A key objective is to inspire industry-wide change and elevate standards for environmental and social responsibility. To advance this goal, we’ve partnered with leading organizations:
Fashion Pact: Serving on the Fashion Pact Steering Committee, we engage and collaborate on critical industry and environmental issues. This helps us share a supply chain partner’s perspective and learn from the industry’s best practices.
Transformer’s Foundation: Collaborated with The Transformers Foundation and peers like Epic Group, Simple Approach, and Norlanka to create An Apparel Supplier’s Guide to Key Sustainability Legislation, outlining 12 upcoming laws in the US, UK, and EU.
Fashion Producer’s Collective: Serving on the Producer Committee to amplify producer voices, share knowledge, and drive sustainable fashion leadership.
International Apparel Federation: Joined the federation to strengthen sustainable supply chains, industry standardization, and inclusive solutions.
Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson of Shahi Exports, said,
“As we enter our 50th year, we’re excited about what lies ahead. Our roadmap focuses on diversifying our product portfolio, prioritizing sustainability, and investing in our people. We look toward a more circular future as we remain steadfast in our role as catalysts for change.”
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2024. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2023, 2022.
4 September | Innovation and Technology Symposium 2024
Anant Ahuja, Director of ESG and Sustainability, participated as a speaker at the HKRITA – The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited’s I&T Symposium 2024. The symposium explored turning lab innovations into real-world applications that drive meaningful change across fashion and textiles.
Anant’s session on ‘Scaling Innovation in Textile Manufacturing’ highlighted Shahi’s collaborative efforts with HKRITA in developing Aborboost- a cellulosic superabsorbent polymer (C-SAP) made from cotton textile waste. This development underscores the need for a closed loop in textile waste management systems that help farmers and the environment.
30 August | Indian Manufacturing Leadership Forum
Anant Ahuja attended the International Manufacturing Leadership Forum, organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce (FICCI). The forum focused on strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness. Industry leaders gathered to discuss challenges and strategies that can position India as a global manufacturing hub.
The discussions explored actionable steps to advance the Make in India vision. Participants also called for supportive government policies. The event emphasized collaborative efforts essential for building a robust manufacturing ecosystem that boosts India’s global economic standing.
23 August | Finance Leadership Dialogue
Mayank Kumar, CFO of the Ladies Speciality Division (LSD), represented Shahi at the second edition of the Finance leadership dialogue hosted by the Financial Express in association with Oracle.
The dialogue saw an exchange of ideas on ‘Technological Innovation Changing Financial Landscape.’ Several industry leaders came together to discuss the impact of technology in a digital-first era. They explored the shifting nature of a CFO’s role, emphasizing the incorporation of innovation and analytics by the businesses. The dialogue aimed to foster collaboration to address key challenges and identify opportunities in today’s evolving financial landscape.
5 August | The Good Business Forum: Redesigning the Bottom Line
Shahi participated in ‘The Good Business Forum: Redesigning the Bottom Line’ event organized by Good Business Lab at the Bangalore International Centre. The forum brought together industry leaders and innovators to explore the impact of worker well-being on global competitiveness.
Anant Ahuja opened the event with a keynote on sustainable practices. Shahi’s involvement extended to two panels. Senior GM Chitra Prasad joined the panel titled ‘Shared value creation requires co-designing with stakeholders’, discussing collaborative designs for behavioral change with peers from RISE and TATA Motors.
In another panel, ‘Worker voices empower business transformation’, Shahi’s S.R. Divya, Operator, and Shabana Banu, IE Assistant, shared their insights, underscoring the importance of worker voices in the evolution of a business.
28 June | Stitching Sustainability: Change With Every Thread
Kritika Chauhan, Manager of ESG & Innovations, participated in a panel discussion at the “Stitching Sustainability: Change With Every Thread” event organized by Saahas and GIZ. She spoke about Shahi’s waste management and circular models for textile waste.
Kritika emphasized the importance of R&D, innovation, and embracing recycled materials along with the potential of bringing new technologies to India.
The event focused on sustainable practices in the textile industry, exploring opportunities and charting a path forward.
27 June | GBL X SLCP | Human Rights Due Diligence: Impacts and Opportunities for Indian Suppliers
Srinivasa Rao Venkatesh, Chief Compliance Officer, attended a panel discussion on Human Rights Due Diligence: Impacts and Opportunities for Indian Suppliers along with the speakers from GBL, SLCP and Gokaldas Exports.
The panel emphasized supporting suppliers and understanding their perspectives, highlighting the role of social compliance tools and grievance solutions in meeting requirements and fostering business success. They underscored the transformative impact of effective communication with workers and grievance redressal mechanisms on organizational change and benefits.
Mr. Rao mentioned transitioning from diversity to convergence to improve due diligence. Shahi established a governance team to oversee worker risk, health, safety, and compliance, leading to the development of Inache, a platform aligned with global standards for worker empowerment.
14 June | TESCO Supplier Summit 2024
Shahi attended the Tesco Supplier Summit in Bengaluru, where we actively engaged in key panel discussions. Chitra Prasad, Senior General Manager of Organizational Development, shared valuable insights on gender, supply chain, and labor agency management. Additionally, Puja Tickoo, Executive Vice President of the Ladies Speciality Division, discussed Shahi’s commitment to responsible business growth by integrating environmental sustainability into all stages of production.
22 May | Global Fashion Summit 2024
Our Managing Director and Chairperson, Harish Ahuja, represented Shahi at this year’s Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition, presented by Global Fashion Agenda.
In the panel discussion, ‘Collective Financing Models for Climate,’ he underscored the universal challenge of decarbonization and highlighted the potential learning from other industries to gain valuable insights. He emphasized the necessity of collaborative solutions in the fashion sector, including alignment on decarbonization goals.
Harish stressed the need for brands and retailers to collectively finance research and innovation to address unsolved challenges, such as renewable energy storage and efficient order placement to prevent overproduction.
Venkat Rao, Chief Compliance Officer, participated in the panel ‘The SLCP Process & System’ organized by the Social & Labor Convergence Program. The panel discussed the SLCP process and system, covering topics such as the assessment process, timeline, and how to effectively navigate and maximize the use of the Gateway and Accredited Host platforms.
6 April | ‘Sustainability: Balancing People, Profits, and Planet’ hosted by Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE)
Anant Ahuja, Head of ESG, participated at the Annual Economics Conclave – Iqtisadiyyat’24 hosted by Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE).
In his keynote address on ‘Sustainability: Balancing People, Profits, and Planet,’ he discussed integrating sustainable business practices within manufacturing industries, highlighting the necessity of balancing profitability with responsible operations for the well-being of people and the environment.
01 March | ‘Traceability Pilots in Indian Cotton Supply Chains: Lessons for Sustainability and Due Diligence’panel by the U.S. Department of Labor
Kritika Chauhan, AM, Communications & Sustainability Innovation participated in a panel ‘Traceability Pilots in Indian Cotton Supply Chains: Lessons for Sustainability and Due Diligence’ organised by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The panel discussed how technologies can support labor due diligence, with a focus on additive product tracers and isotope testing. Sharing the key learnings from the STREAMS traceability pilots, Kritika shared that as the first mill to implement YESS, Shahi looked forward to exploring complementary technologies and future advancements.
28 February | Masterclass organised by Good Business Lab
Deepak Rautela, Associate Vice President, Training & Organizational Development, spoke at the Masterclass on “Enhancing Business Gains through Worker Communication” organized by Good Business Lab at Bharat Tex 2024. He was joined by Lavanya Garg, Director, Strategy, Partnership, and People Operations at Good Business Lab, and Renukaprasad B, Senior Manager of GBL Ventures.
He shared insights on the transformative impact of Inache, an anonymous and digital grievance redressal tool, from the use-case experience of Shahi and how it has helped improve worker communication from the shop floor.
28 February | ‘Redefining Natural Fibers: Collaboration for High-Value Products’ panel at Bharat Tex 2024
Gauri Sharma represented Shahi at a panel discussion on ‘Redefining Natural Fibers: Collaboration for High-Value Products’ at Bharat Tex 2024. She shared, “Innovation in sustainable materials faces hurdles in scaling up due to certification costs and performance expectations. Alongside sustainability, we need to focus on performance and added benefits to the consumer. Supporting innovations emerging in India, especially in the transition from pilot to commercial stage, requires collective efforts from both industry and government.”
28 February | ‘Doing Business in India’ panel organised by Invest India
Anant Ahuja, Head of ESG, participated in a panel ‘Doing Business in India’ organised by Invest India at Bharat Tex 2024. He highlighted the role of manufacturers in advancing sustainability, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across the supply chain to achieve decarbonization, use sustainable materials, and address other key sustainability goals.
The panel aimed to drive growth and elevate India’s global competitiveness in textiles, making it an attractive destination for investment.
27 February | Vision 2047 in Textiles
Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson represented Shahi at a panel titled ‘Vision 2047 in Textiles’ hosted by NITI Aayog at Bharat Tex 2024. He shared his views on achieving the vision of making India the world’s largest textile hub. He mentioned, “As a roadmap ahead, the Indian textile industry’s primary vision should be to have a systemic approach toward sustainability to boost the global value chain. By focusing on building a robust value chain, enhancing infrastructure, scaling economies, and prioritizing quality, we can reignite India’s growth in textiles, propelling us towards Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance).”
26 February | CXOs Roundtable at Bharat Tex 2024
Shahi participated in an exclusive CXO Roundtable organized by KPMG at the Bharat Tex, which facilitates collaboration with industry peers on strategic initiatives. Harish Ahuja, the Managing Director and Chairperson, represented Shahi at the roundtable.
The panel discussed the steps India needs to take to reduce reliance on imported raw materials. Other takeaways included focusing on scale, sustainability, and quality to make India a global manufacturing hub for textiles and apparel. He shared, “Through collaborative platforms and a focus on operational efficiency, the textile industry can drive innovation and sustainable growth. Smart automation and cutting-edge technology, empowering women, and accessing global markets are key strategies for success in the sector.”
21 February | OECD – OCDE Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector
Anant Ahuja, represented Shahi at the OECD – Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector. In the panel, ‘More than just paperwork? He highlighted the role of certifications in due diligence as a supplement to compliance with standards, driving improvements, and addressing challenges in the supply chain.
20 February | ‘Mill Conformance with Due Diligence Requirements – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ at the OECD – OECD Forum
Kritika Chauhan, Assistant Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovation, was a panelist on ‘Mill Conformance with Due Diligence Requirements – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ’ by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She shared Shahi’s experiences in understanding, meeting, and assessing the requirements of the YESS due diligence standards. She also explored strategies to scale due diligence efforts to address potential and actual forced labor risk.
19 February | Moderated Panel Discussion at the OECD – OECD Forum
Anant Ahuja moderated a session by Better Buying Institute at the OECD—OCDE Forum on ‘Empowering suppliers and supporting buyers in using data to accelerate purchasing practices improvements’. The panel discussed obstacles hindering the acceleration of purchasing practices and explored strategies for utilizing BBI data to address these challenges and promote optimal practices for driving change.
The speakers on the panel were Marsha Dickson from Better Buying Institute, Michael Levine from Under Armour, Nikhil Hirdaramani from Hirdaramani Apparel, Pat Noonan from SanMar Corporation, Stanley Szeto from Lever Style, Marc Beckmann from GIZ-FABRIC, and Janet Mensink from SLCP.
14 February | Supplier Journey with Walmart
Anant Ahuja, spoke at the Walmart Growth Summit 2024 in a panel titled ‘Supplier Journey with Walmart.’
He discussed Shahi’s journey with Walmart, highlighting our collaborative efforts. He stated, “Our supplier journey with Walmart spans over three decades. Their commitment to innovation and sustainability drives us to continuously improve, aligning perfectly with our values. By investing in the supply chain, we aim to grow the positive impacts our business can have.”
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2023. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2022, 2021.
04 December | Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Manufacturer’s Forum: Bangalore
Gauri Sharma, Assistant General Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovation, represented Shahi at the SAC’s Coalition Manufacturer’s Forum in Bangalore to present the key takeaways from ‘An Apparel Supplier’s Guide: Key Sustainability Legislations in the EU, US, and UK’ a groundbreaking resource on sustainability-related legislation in the apparel industry.
Gauri shares how Shahi partnered with a group of suppliers, including Epic Group, Norlanka, Simple Approach, along with Transformers Foundation and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, to develop this comprehensive resource to build an understanding of policies initiated in the global north and how they often have a ripple effect down the supply chain in regions outside the jurisdiction of the policy.
From increased reporting requirements to supply chain traceability, the report researched and written by The Remedy Project examines key focus areas, potential legal implications, and operational considerations for apparel suppliers & beyond.
01-02 December | Reimagining Textile Waste in India Conference by Fashion For Good
Gauri Sharma spoke at the ‘Reimagining Textile Waste in India Conference’ held in Delhi on December 1st and 2nd. The event gathered multiple supply chain members to discuss the enablers for a future of circularity, including innovators like Renewcell, with whom Shahi is working actively as the Indian supply chain partner.
The event paved the way for more conversations and projects around textile waste and circularity in India and how we can work together collaboratively in the coming months.
29 November | SAP Concur- Indian Economy Looking Ahead- Crystal Ball Gazing
Pravin Dalal, DGM Environmental Sustainability at Shahi, spoke at SAP Concur- Indian Economy Looking Ahead- Crystal Ball Gazing. He was joined by Vijay Kumar Nagaraju, Deputy General Manager – Environment, Sustainability & ESG, Brigade Enterprises Ltd. The panel, moderated by Hoshie Ghaswalla, CEO of Business World Engage, discussed ‘ROl on Sustainability,’ where Pravin shared insights on the importance of integrating sustainability initiatives into organizational practices. He shares, “Embedding sustainability in organizational practices through a dual approach—top-down and bottom-up—is crucial. Beyond measurable ROI, focus on indirect benefits like a positive reputation, enhanced brand value, and talent retention for enduring organizational value.”
27 October | ‘Future of Work and Skills For Emerging Markets’ by Good Business Lab
JD. Giri, Director at Shahi, spoke at the ‘Future of Work and Skills For Emerging Markets’ conference hosted by Good Business Lab (GBL), Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and 21st Century India Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The panel discussed ‘Soft Skills, Hard Skills, Digital Skills?: Upskilling India’s Workforce’, where he shared insights on upskilling India’s workforce by integrating soft skills with technical prowess to empower workers and improve work culture. He was joined by Raffaella Sadun, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, Co-Lead at Digital Reskilling Lab, and Daniel Uribe Villa, Principal of VélezReyes+.
13 October | Chintan Shivir Event hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson at Shahi, represented the Textile and Apparel Industry at the Chintan Shivir event hosted by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
He painted a comprehensive picture of the textile industry, highlighting the current sector profile and setting ambitious goals, along with a plan of action for the shift in the current ecosystem and policies, technological advancements, and employment.
07 October | Panel Discussion by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
Sanjana Pimoli, Assistant Manager, Communications and Sustainability Innovation, represented Shahi in a World Cotton Day panel discussion on ‘Circularity in the Cotton Value Chain.’ The Ministry of Textiles organized this panel in collaboration with the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd (CCI) and the EU Resource Efficiency Initiative (India).
Sanjana shared Shahi’s comprehensive approach to integrating elements of circularity in our business, particularly concerning cotton sourcing and waste management at different supply chain stages. She also highlighted challenges in scaling innovations and the need for collaboration to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in creating solutions for a just transition for the industry.
26 September | NOMI Network2023 Summit
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, spoke at the Nomi Network 2023 Summit in a panel titled ‘Closing Wealth Gaps: Innovations in Global Supply Chain.’
He discussed Shahi’s journey and how the mission of NOMI Network, centered on empowering women from marginalized backgrounds, aligns with Shahi’s dedication to promoting gender equality and social inclusion. Anant also highlighted the various training programs, employment opportunities, mentorship initiatives, and support Shahi offers to candidates from the NOMI Network, enabling them to navigate workplace challenges and fostering their personal and professional development.
23 August | 16th Edition of the Environment and Energy Conclave by BCCI
Kritika Chauhan, Assistant Manager, Communication and Sustainability Innovations, participated in a panel on ‘Sustainable approach and circular economy.’
At the 16th Edition of the Environment and Energy Conclave by The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She shared, “Circular business models impact environmental sustainability, and collaboration within the supply chain can ensure scalability.”
20-21 July | Apparel Sourcing Week 2023
Anant Ahuja, participated in a panel on ‘Green Manufacturing: Significance and Strategies for Implementation’ at this year’s Apparel Sourcing Week hosted by Apparel Resources.
During the panel, he shared insights from Shahi’s journey in adopting sustainable practices. He addressed the challenges of implementing these practices, especially the additional costs often associated with them.
Anant also highlighted that sustainability is an exercise in both environmental and social well-being. And how a commitment to evidence-based worker well-being measures results in impactful programs that empower workers and promote a positive impact on the communities in which Shahi operates.
18 July | Women Deliver Conference 2023
Shahi co-hosted a virtual concurrent session on “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Growth for Women in Low-Income Work” together with Good Business Lab and the United Nations Foundation at this year’s Women Deliver Conference. In a first, Shahi was represented by a factory worker and presented cross-cutting views from across the value chain, including insights from lived experience, research, on-ground implementation, and policy perspectives.
Kalyani Pandey, Needle Keeper, shared “Women face biases right from home and at work, where they expect us to drop the ball in quality and responsibility. The programs I have been a part of have helped break down different aspects of my life that potentially impact my work. It showed how awareness, communication, time management, and financial planning can help bring about big changes at work and at home.”
Additionally, Chitra Ramdas, General Manager, Organizational Development elaborated “The effort does not stop at training. It is important to close the loop on equality programs with real transitions on the shop floor in both decision-making and remuneration for women who take on more responsibilities on the shop floor. To build a culture of gender equality, organizations need to work on policies and practices coupled with supportive team members and develop leaders as champions.”
10-11 July | YESS Launched in Pakistan and India
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, and Amanullah S.P, Assistant General Manager, Spinning, were speakers at the webinar organized by Yarn Ethically and Sustainably Sourced (YESS), supported by Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN). YESS launched its due diligence standard in India and Pakistan this year with successfully conducted mill assessments.
Shahi became the first mill in India to undergo this assessment, and the speakers shared Shahi’s positive experience and valuable learnings.
30 June-1 July | BSL’s Glocal Maneuver Series Powerplay-2
Rajneesh Rai, Senior General Manager of Laboratory & Environmental Sustainability, participated in a panel discussion titled “Good Earth: One Earth-ESG Goals and Beyond” at the Glocal Maneuver Series Powerplay-2 event organized by the Brands Sourcing Leaders Association (BSL).
This panel brought together industry leaders to delve into the future of sustainability and its impact on businesses globally. In the discussion, Rajneesh provided his insights on the roadmap to prepare for the future of sustainability. He emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures in the present, with a strong sense of responsibility. He walked the audience through how Shahi aims to reduce environmental impact through materials and processes by working with innovators to explore alternative materials with lower environmental impacts, reduce process-related footprints, and optimize resource consumption.
Furthermore, Shahi’s sustainability journey, deeply rooted in our “Responsible for” framework, integrating social and environmental well-being, was showcased in a spotlight session by Pravin Dalal, Deputy General Manager of Environmental Sustainability, and Snigdha Voruganti, Senior Executive of Communication and Sustainability Innovations. Their insightful presentation highlighted our ongoing efforts to drive positive change and make a lasting impact.
28 June | Roundtable at Global Fashion Summit
Sanjana Pimoli, Assistant Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovations, participated in a roundtable hosted by Global Fashion Agenda with London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion as a segment within the Next Gen Assembly programme for young sustainability talents. The roundtable discussed how storytelling could be used to drive ambition to action in fashion system transformation.
Sanjana spoke about the agrarian crisis triggered in India due to climate change and the importance of innovations such as Cellulosic Superabsorbent Polymer in securing farmers and making the textile industry circular. She also emphasized the systems change required in scaling these innovations.
13 June | Planet Textiles by Sustainable Apparel Coalition
Gauri Sharma, Assistant General Manager, Communications & Sustainability Innovation, was among the esteemed speakers at Planet Textiles on June 13, 2023. She shared insights on ‘Scaling Processing Technologies in the Fashion Industry to Achieve Our Climate Goals: Barriers and Solutions.’
There is an unprecedented level of urgency for the industry to decarbonize, which requires a shift from incremental to disruptive innovation, especially during the energy-guzzling textile processing stage. By setting this context, Gauri emphasized that manufacturers must be part of the problem-solving from the beginning. They require industry stakeholders to share the risk, jointly invest, and build long-term partnerships to scale upcoming technologies that enable the shift from wet to dry processing.
08 June | Open Perspectives by H&M Foundation
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, spoke on a panel, ‘Changing the System’, as part of H&M Foundation’s annual Global Change Awards. Anant highlighted the significance of social innovation in the apparel industry, given that it employs millions of people, particularly women, in the supply chains. Social innovation can be more complex than environmental because it requires an understanding of local contexts, and its impact can be hard to measure. Anant shared Shahi’s evidence-based interventions, which have had a measurable positive impact on both business and workers, and called upon the industry to invest equally in social programs and innovators.
06 June | United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific
Ayushi Ghosh, Senior Executive, Communication and Sustainability Innovations, represented Shahi in a side session on ‘Championing Worker Voice: The Role of Technology in promoting worker well-being’ at the UNDPv B+HR forum this year.
In this panel, Ayushi spoke about the enduring principles of worker’s voice, emphasizing the importance of listening, understanding, and remediation, even as communication mediums have evolved over time. She stressed the goal of including worker voice in driving meaningful action and supporting a healthy work environment while fostering a thriving business. She highlighted the need to build the employer’s ability to listen and ensure that workers are equipped to utilize the available communication channels effectively. Understanding the journey that their voice takes through these channels is key.
20-22 April | Odisha Skill Conclave 2023
Odisha Skill Conclave 2023 was a three-day event that brought together leaders from Industry, Academia, and International Organizations to explore innovation, best practices, and the role of partnerships in generating employment and unlocking the potential of Odisha’s workforce.
The Government of Odisha has been a long-standing partner in Shahi’s path to making skilling accessible to youth and women in India. JD. Giri, Director at Shahi, described our journey together to empower the next generation of skilled professionals and drive economic growth.
19-21 April | AIChE: Global Polymers and Textiles Conference
Anant Ahuja presented the research on cellulosic superabsorbent polymer (CSAP) at the #AIChe Global Polymers and Textiles Conference held at the University of Massachusetts amidst industry leaders, designers, and academics.
He emphasized the use case of CSAP as a climate adaptive measure to de-risk cotton farmers against crop failure due to water stress. Anant also spoke at the circularity and supply chain management panel and shared his thoughts on the strategic collaboration required to accelerate sustainability in the industry. He highlighted how HKRITA – The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited’s model of applied research and partnership with the industry enabled us to work efficiently on R&D on CSAP.
15-17 March | 3rd Global Textile Conclave
Anjani Mishra, Deputy General Manager of Skill Development, represented Shahi at the 3rd Global Textile Conclave organized by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).
In a panel on ‘Increasing Economic and Social Opportunities for Women in the Textile and Apparel Industry,’ he spoke about Shahi’s commitment to improving the socio-economic status of female candidates through skilling & gainful employment across 70+ skill development training centers in 15 States in India. He emphasized the importance of Upskilling & Re-skilling existing female employees to improve career progression within the organization.
16-17 February | OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment & Footwear Sector
Anant Ahuja represented Shahi at the 2023 OECD – OCDE Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector. He spoke at the panel “Due diligence costs and responsibilities:
Collaborative approaches to buyer-supplier relationships” about the value of multi-stakeholder initiatives on due diligence that involves suppliers, brands, NGOs, and other experts to address the challenges in a local context.
28 February | Organic Cotton & Textiles Conference 2023
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Communications and Sustainability Innovations, Shahi spoke at the Organic Cotton & Textiles Conference 2023 about the social protections that need to be embedded and strengthened at the farm level in cotton production and the pertinent role of emerging policies in enabling these changes.
She also highlighted how a vertically integrated manufacturer like Shahi could play a role in accelerating authentic organic cotton in the industry sustainably.
31 January | BSR KWIL Conference
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Communications and Sustainability Innovations, represented Shahi at the Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) event focusing on their ‘Keeping Workers in the Loop’ (KWIL) Project. In the panel ‘PROGRESS TOWARDS A JUST, FAIR & INCLUSIVE CIRCULAR FASHION SYSTEM’ joined by H&M, ILO, and Hasiru Dala, she shared how the learnings from the KWIL project motivated Shahi to take on a lens of social wellbeing in circularity.
After engaging in the KWIL research last year, Shahi took on projects and pilots on circularity while keeping worker well-being at the center. She also emphasized the role of strong brand-supplier relationships in the fair transition to a circular economy.
30 January | Shades of Blue
Chitra Ramdas, General Manager, Organizational Development at Shahi, participated in a panel discussion on ‘enabling worker voice,’ an essential tool for a thriving business and work environment for manufacturers at Shades of Blue by Good Business Lab.
Shades of Blue was an experience center curated at the Alliance Française de Bangalore that explored blue-collar labor and its many complexities through a fresh way of understanding India’s older garment sector and the emerging gig economy.
24 January | IOM Panel
Anant Ahuja, Head of Organizational Development, represented Shahi in the Indo-Pacific Supply Chain Guidelines Launch hosted by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM). He shared the myriad of challenges faced by migrant workers, including lack of affordable housing, health facilities, and social isolation, among others. Shahi is working closely with ecosystem partners to build a model and ecosystem of support for migrant workers at Shahi in the form of a migrant support center. The aim is to create an enabling environment for migrant workers to access job opportunities and create a model center that can be adopted and scaled across industries and geographies.
December 6, New Delhi: Shahi Exports, India’s largest apparel manufacturer and exporter, released its second Sustainability Report for FY 2022-23 today. The comprehensive report details the company’s extensive initiatives across key focus areas, including Energy and Emissions Management, Water Efficiency, Chemical and Materials Stewardship, Waste Towards Circularity, Empowered Workforce, Employee Health and Well-being, Fair and Respectful Workplace, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Anant Ahuja, Head of ESG at Shahi Exports, said, “The past year has marked significant shifts in the narrative, perspective, and business of sustainability in fashion.As the industry evolves,Shahi remains committed to conducting our business in a way that reduces negative impact and maximizes the positive impact on our people and the planet. The Sustainability Report is an important tool in helping us track our progress and identify areas where we can make further improvements. The data and insights reported over the past two years have been invaluable in helping us develop more strategies aligned with long-term thinking on our growth journey.”
Key highlights of the report:
Shahi has moved the needle on Planet targets by:
Increasing renewable energy capacity to 92.5MW brings it closer to 100% renewable electricity goal by 2026.
This year, Shahi phased out coal from garment factories and continue to work on coal elimination in mills.
Achieved Higg FEM verified average score of 78.05%, compared to the global average of 59.67%.
Shahi’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, and have received several international and national awards for the commitment to environmental stewardship, like the International Green Apple Environment Award by The Green Organization and the Excellence in Performance Award by The Confederation of Indian Industry under the ground-mounted solar category.
On the People front:
Shahi has invested 1.2 million hours in upskilling its employees in behavioral & technical skills.
The company continued to invest in soft skills training for women through the Gap Inc. PA.C.E. program, reaching 86,000+ women since 2007 and completing 96% of 2024 training target.
It partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support migrant workers and launched the YESS: Yarn Ethically and Sustainably Sourced program to mitigate the risk of forced labor in supply chain.
Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson of Shahi Exports said, “Over the years, Shahi has always demonstrated a deeper understanding of the changing landscape of our environment and the role that sustainability as a concept plays in this shift. As Shahi turns 50 next year, we believe sustainability efforts will increasingly underpin our success and drive industry-wide transformation. We will continue in the spirit of collaboration, share our best practices, and advocate for collective action.”
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2022. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2021, 2020.
Driving Sustainability through Social Responsibility
According to the report ‘Our Common Future’ by the World Commission on Environment and Development, responsible corporate activities can lead to more significant sustainable development. The importance of corporate social responsibility and its connection to our core values has grown at Shahi. Strategic planning and incorporation into daily operations form the foundation of our corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Corporate Social Responsibility at Shahi
Through our programs, Shahi ensures the creation of efficient strategies to alleviate societal, environmental, and economic issues. It caters to some of the most vulnerable communities (largely women from low-income backgrounds), children, farmers, and migrant workers. It supports local government authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to build communities for the better. With over 22,867 beneficiaries benefitted, Shahi has progressed towards making its CSR approach more resourceful, ethical, and sustainable.
The Potential for Lasting Impact
The Government of India’s Census Data states that India has a population of 1.38 billion people, 67% of whom live in rural areas, most of which lack infrastructure and essential services. In this light, CSR has the power to change, alleviate, and even eliminate many common challenges faced by communities in India. CSR works to address the needs and aspirations of communities by building commitment to the development and upliftment of communities.
In the India Philanthropy Report 2022, Poverty Alleviation, Healthcare & WASH, Education & Skills, and Rural Development emerged as the highlighted theme areas that account for 70% of India’s overall CSR budget. Compliant and accountable CSR has ensured that rural development and other facets of our society have made considerable strides in the right direction.
Our Engagement this Past Year
In the past year, Shahi has undertaken a variety of projects in the areas of Environmental Protection, The Welfare of Migrants, Health, Education and School Infrastructure, Covid Support along with Rural Development.
Environmental Protection
Environmental sustainability at Shahi is committed to the responsible use of natural resources and environmental protection.
Shahi has conducted a tree plantation drive with Give Me Trees Trust (GMTT) to increase green cover and improve local air quality. GMTT is India’s largest community-based voluntary tree planting and conservation movement in India. The environmental charity strongly believes in planting native species of trees (like Peepal, Neem, Pilkhan, and more) as they are the most beneficial trees suited for the environment and provide additional medicinal benefits.
Shahi has partnered with GMTT to plant trees on barren land in Delhi and convert it into a dense forest. The plantation drive is based on the Miyawaki Method, involving planting two trees per square meter to make a biodiversity hotspot in the city.
Shahi partnered with Saahas on the Sada Suchittva Arekere Program, within which Shahi established a sustainable Solid Waste Management (SWM) model in an identified area near Arekere Lake Bengaluru to reduce dumping waste into the lake. This initiative aligns with the Clean India Campaign’s goal to build a cleaner and healthier environment for local communities.
Shahi further partnered with Tanga Charitable Trust to launch the Biomass Sustainability Project. The program provided livelihood opportunities and extra income to local farmers in the Raichur region for farm waste collection. This effort prevents stubble burning and reduces carbon emissions in the region by extracting and converting crop residue into biomass.
The Welfare of Migrant Workers
At Shahi, we recognize the challenges faced by migrant workers when relocating to new urban environments. Shahi joined hands with Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) to launch the Migrant Support Center.
With 900 registered migrants, this initiative intends to provide migrant workers with social, informational, functional, and psychological support and services to promote their integration into new urban surroundings.
Health
The Swasth Parivaar Project is a health intervention program for the vulnerable population of the Peenya Region in Bangalore, Karnataka. Under this project, Shahi jointly worked with the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) to set up a satellite clinic to provide preventive and curative services for sexual and reproductive health.
The services include Family planning (Intrauterine devices, injectable and oral hormonal contraceptives, male and female condoms, emergency contraception), Maternal and child health services (Antenatal and postnatal care, treatment of minor illness and immunization), Prevention and management of sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections including HIV.
Shahi also launched the Menstrual Health Project to improve knowledge of menstrual hygiene management and promote access and acceptance of menstrual cups as safe sanitary products. In collaboration with Kamakshi Trust and Shakti (Rare Enterprises), the project trained over 1,698 women on menstrual health management and distributed menstrual cups. Over 68% of these women accepted using the menstrual cups provided. Overall, the project created menstrual health awareness for 2,750 migrant women in Karnataka.
Further, Shahi, along with Save the Children, India (Bal Raksha Bharath), launched the program ‘Improving Maternal, Child Health, and Nutrition Services’ (MCHN) in Bengaluru (urban and rural), and districts of Hassan, Tumkur, Maddur, and Kolar in Karnataka. The focus is on providing quality maternal, child health, and nutrition care in Anganwadi and primary health centers in the targeted regions.
This capacity-building program allows accountability and engagement of local governments and communities to improve the use and quality of MCHN services. It addresses issues between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, as this 1000-day period is a critical time to impact a child’s cognitive and physical development positively.
Education & School Infrastructure Improvement
Shahi launched the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning project in association with STEM Learning Pvt. Ltd and Kamakshi Trust. Under this initiative, 5 mini science centers have been established in schools for 8th-10th grade students, and 180 modules have been provided for teacher training in science, engineering, technology, and math. The project also supports children in preparing for state and national level exhibition competitive programs.
With Janodaya Trust, a social service organization working on social and community development, we provided free coaching classes and counseling sessions for 10th-standard students from economically weaker sections, including dropouts and failed students. More than 462 students have enrolled in the coaching program. Further, the school infrastructure development fund was utilized to construct toilet and water filter facilities, along with the provision of school bags and smart tablets for students.
[vcex_spacing size=”20px”]Covid Support
At the peak of the pandemic, Shahi provided oxygen cylinders, beds, medicines, and first-aid boxes to primary health care centers and government hospitals in the regions of Kuppam, Mysore, and Hassan.
Many migrant workers were able to comfortably stay in Shahi’s residence halls during the first lockdown. Shahi provided food, sanitizers, masks, and round-the-clock medical assistance from Janodaya. Shahi distributed covid relief kits to front-line workers, including nurses, the local police force, and residents, to help maintain social distance. A ‘Doctor on Call’ program was also set up to curb misinformation and provide counseling for symptoms.
Rural Development
Shahi built infrastructural development in rural Karnataka by creating bus shelters in the rural areas of Maddur and Tumkur. Further WASH facilities, infrastructural development, and painting of government schools and Solar Street Lights were provided at Bydagi, Hassan, and Maddur in Shivamogga.
The Next Step
As a forward-thinking organization, we are proud of the community and environment-driven initiatives we have led so far. As we progress, we shall strive for our CSR efforts to be pertinent locally and nationally and guided by the principles of sustainable development. We are keen to scale our initiatives through like-minded collaboration.
Read Shahi’s CSR Policy-2022-23 vulnerable communities (largely women from low-income backgrounds), children, farmers, and migrant workers. It supports local government authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to build communities for the better. With over 22,867 beneficiaries benefitted, Shahi has progressed towards making its CSR approach more resourceful, ethical, and sustainable.
The Potential for Lasting Impact
The Government of India’s Census Data states that India has a population of 1.38 billion people, 67% of whom live in rural areas, most of which lack infrastructure and essential services. In this light, CSR has the power to change, alleviate, and even eliminate many common challenges faced by communities in India. CSR works to address the needs and aspirations of communities by building commitment to the development and upliftment of communities.
In the India Philanthropy Report 2022, Poverty Alleviation, Healthcare & WASH, Education & Skills, and Rural Development emerged as the highlighted theme areas that account for 70% of India’s overall CSR budget. Compliant and accountable CSR has ensured that rural development and other facets of our society have made considerable strides in the right direction.
Our Engagement this Past Year
In the past year, Shahi has undertaken a variety of projects in the areas of Environmental Protection, The Welfare of Migrants, Health, Education and School Infrastructure, Covid Support along with Rural Development.
Environmental Protection
Environmental sustainability at Shahi is committed to the responsible use of natural resources and environmental protection.
Shahi has conducted a tree plantation drive with Give Me Trees Trust (GMTT) to increase green cover and improve local air quality. GMTT is India’s largest community-based voluntary tree planting and conservation movement in India. The environmental charity strongly believes in planting native species of trees (like Peepal, Neem, Pilkhan, and more) as they are the most beneficial trees suited for the environment and provide additional medicinal benefits.
Shahi has partnered with GMTT to plant trees on barren land in Delhi and convert it into a dense forest. The plantation drive is based on the Miyawaki Method, involving planting two trees per square meter to make a biodiversity hotspot in the city.
Shahi partnered with Saahas on the Sada Suchittva Arekere Program, within which Shahi established a sustainable Solid Waste Management (SWM) model in an identified area near Arekere Lake Bengaluru to reduce dumping waste into the lake. This initiative aligns with the Clean India Campaign’s goal to build a cleaner and healthier environment for local communities.
Shahi further partnered with Tanga Charitable Trust to launch the Biomass Sustainability Project. The program provided livelihood opportunities and extra income to local farmers in the Raichur region for farm waste collection. This effort prevents stubble burning and reduces carbon emissions in the region by extracting and converting crop residue into biomass.
The Welfare of Migrant Workers
At Shahi, we recognize the challenges faced by migrant workers when relocating to new urban environments. Shahi joined hands with Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) to launch the Migrant Support Center.
With 900 registered migrants, this initiative intends to provide migrant workers with social, informational, functional, and psychological support and services to promote their integration into new urban surroundings.
Health
The Swasth Parivaar Project is a health intervention program for the vulnerable population of the Peenya Region in Bangalore, Karnataka. Under this project, Shahi jointly worked with the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) to set up a satellite clinic to provide preventive and curative services for sexual and reproductive health.
The services include Family planning (Intrauterine devices, injectable and oral hormonal contraceptives, male and female condoms, emergency contraception), Maternal and child health services (Antenatal and postnatal care, treatment of minor illness and immunization), Prevention and management of sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections including HIV.
Shahi also launched the Menstrual Health Project to improve knowledge of menstrual hygiene management and promote access and acceptance of menstrual cups as safe sanitary products. In collaboration with Kamakshi Trust and Shakti (Rare Enterprises), the project trained over 1,698 women on menstrual health management and distributed menstrual cups. Over 68% of these women accepted using the menstrual cups provided. Overall, the project created menstrual health awareness for 2,750 migrant women in Karnataka.
Further, Shahi, along with Save the Children, India (Bal Raksha Bharath), launched the program ‘Improving Maternal, Child Health, and Nutrition Services’ (MCHN) in Bengaluru (urban and rural), and districts of Hassan, Tumkur, Maddur, and Kolar in Karnataka. The focus is on providing quality maternal, child health, and nutrition care in Anganwadi and primary health centers in the targeted regions.
This capacity-building program allows accountability and engagement of local governments and communities to improve the use and quality of MCHN services. It addresses issues between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, as this 1000-day period is a critical time to impact a child’s cognitive and physical development positively.
Education & School Infrastructure Improvement
Shahi launched the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning project in association with STEM Learning Pvt. Ltd and Kamakshi Trust. Under this initiative, 5 mini science centers have been established in schools for 8th-10th grade students, and 180 modules have been provided for teacher training in science, engineering, technology, and math. The project also supports children in preparing for state and national level exhibition competitive programs.
With Janodaya Trust, a social service organization working on social and community development, we provided free coaching classes and counseling sessions for 10th-standard students from economically weaker sections, including dropouts and failed students. More than 462 students have enrolled in the coaching program. Further, the school infrastructure development fund was utilized to construct toilet and water filter facilities, along with the provision of school bags and smart tablets for students.
[vcex_spacing size=”20px”]Covid Support
At the peak of the pandemic, Shahi provided oxygen cylinders, beds, medicines, and first-aid boxes to primary health care centers and government hospitals in the regions of Kuppam, Mysore, and Hassan.
Many migrant workers were able to comfortably stay in Shahi’s residence halls during the first lockdown. Shahi provided food, sanitizers, masks, and round-the-clock medical assistance from Janodaya. Shahi distributed covid relief kits to front-line workers, including nurses, the local police force, and residents, to help maintain social distance. A ‘Doctor on Call’ program was also set up to curb misinformation and provide counseling for symptoms.
Rural Development
Shahi built infrastructural development in rural Karnataka by creating bus shelters in the rural areas of Maddur and Tumkur. Further WASH facilities, infrastructural development, and painting of government schools and Solar Street Lights were provided at Bydagi, Hassan, and Maddur in Shivamogga.
The Next Step
As a forward-thinking organization, we are proud of the community and environment-driven initiatives we have led so far. As we progress, we shall strive for our CSR efforts to be pertinent locally and nationally and guided by the principles of sustainable development. We are keen to scale our initiatives through like-minded collaboration.
To name a piece of versatile, durable, and timeless clothing, very few would hesitate to pick the go-to pair of blue denim. Tracking the evolution of denim in the fashion industry, it is often surprising to people to know that the initial design for denim was made for miners and seafarers. The durability of denim made it an instant favorite for all heavy lifting work in the 1800s.
Over time, denim has crossed oceans and continents to lodge itself firmly in fashion history. What evolved from a completely practical utilitarian trend turned into a rebellious cultural shift in the 1960s and eventually a lifestyle choice. (read: The history of Denim Jeans).
But as it transforms from workwear to casual, how did manufacturers re-create that same worn-down look?
Wearing The Pair Down
Denim washing and finishing is a highly resource-intensive process. Conventional methods of mass production also use a large amount of water, chemicals, and energy to produce a pair of jeans. To find out more, we took a trip to Unit 23, Shahi Exports’ Denim Unit in Bengaluru.
Pulling off Denim
Shahi set up the Denim Division in 2010, with Unit 23 in Bengaluru. Currently, Shahi has two denim garmenting units (Units 1 & 23) and a laundry with a production capacity of 12 million pieces per year. Since then, this newest addition has led the growth towards sustainable operations internally and with the customers.
“Judiciously utilizing the four essential resources— chemicals, energy, water, and our people define sustainability for us. Sustainable operations are not limited solely to environmental factors, but the well-being of our workers is equally important,” Mr. Nandheesh Gowda, General Manager, Laundry.
Shahi has adopted the Laundry 5.Zero strategy that has been predicted to revolutionize the denim industry.
We bring together cutting-edge technology from all over the world to make a truly global product, not just fashionable but sustainable.
Scrubbing the Chemical Out
Rethinking the production from the design stage, keeping in mind circularity, is key to ensuring the sustainability of the product. The design team at Shahi starts working from the initial stage– design to minimize the environmental impact of the production. We opt for lighter shades of denim which require a light wash. They demand significantly shorter washing cycles, thus reducing the environmental impact.
A pair of jeans can be ‘weathered or distressed’ using wet and dry finishing processes. Traditional methods of distressing the fabric require workers to scrub them by hand. As the scrubbing sheds layers of blue dust, it is harmful to workers’ health. The finishing process may also require washing with chemicals. Aligning with Laundry 5.Zero, Shahi uses laser technologies to reduce the use of grinders and scrubbers.
The intensity of the distressed look depends on three major factors: wavelength, power density, and pulse width of the laser beam. A computer inputs the desired design and guides the laser over the fabric to create a fading or distressed look. It concentrates heat to decompose the dye according to the desired wash style.
This novel technique provides an alternative to traditional methods such as acid washing, sandblasting, and using potassium permanganate and therefore helps us create a safe and comfortable working environment for our workers. Additionally, laser technology increases our flexibility, speed, and precision to meet significant production needs.
Shahi has developed a single window to facilitate the purchase of chemicals. It helps us to screen the required information about a chemical before purchasing it. The single window is compliant with international standards such as the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Manufacturing Restricted Substances List. It makes sure that we do not use any restricted chemicals harmful to the environment in our production and eases the procedure to procure the chemicals. Streamlining the process also helps Shahi align with the needs of our customers. The larger goal is to protect our production workers, local communities, and the environment from the impact of banned or hazardous chemicals and, ultimately, the consumer.
Shahi constantly collaborates with the best chemical suppliers to better their processes in the Denims Division.
Sustaining the Classic Blue
The classic blue in denim is created through water-intensive washing processes. A significant way to develop a more sustainable operation for producing denim is to focus on its water consumption. Shahi explored technology providers from around the world to bring down our material liquid ratio (MLR) from 1:6 to 1:1.
The principle
e-Flow technology was ideal for reducing water consumption. The technology turns the chemicals into nanobubbles before being subjected to the washing machine. Nanobubbles of air act as a carrier to transmit chemicals into a garment with a minimal quantity of water and zero discharge. This has led to an average of 95% water savings for every denim washed.
Another technology is the G2 Ozone washing machine, which generates ozone from the air to catalyze the indigo fiber dyeing and produces the authentic worn-down look in the desired shade. The water consumed is reduced by 65% and the energy by 20%. The ozone is re-converted into oxygen and released into the air, leaving no harmful by-products.
While reducing water consumption in denim production is essential, it is equally important to reduce dependence on fresh water as much as possible. By installing state-of-the-art effluent treatment plants, Shahi recycles and reuses 100% of its water usage. Our denim laundry achieved the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) standard in 2019. We constantly monitor the water conserved in laundry through our Environmental Impact Measurement (EIM) tools.
Going the Extra Mile on Energy
85% of the electrical energy consumed in Unit 23 is renewable. Additionally, the unit utilizes zero coal for its operations. Shahi set up asolar power plant of 84 megawatts and 9 megawatts of wind power. We aim to suffice 100% of our electricity needs with renewable sources by 2026. Substituting conventional sources for low carbon and sustainable alternatives for thermal energy is a top priority for Shahi.
We have several initiatives running across the units, for example— converting most of our high-speed diesel-fired boilers into agro-waste or PNG-fired boilers to generate steam.
Our newer units are built to incorporate green building principles to minimize energy consumption and leverage natural lighting on the shop floor. All the new units harness sunlight to illuminate our shop floors, and the architecture facilitates natural ventilation that reduces heat dissipation from electric lighting fixtures. The reduced temperatures on the shop floor impact our workforce and their environment directly.
Synergizing People and Resources
People and their well-being are integral to sustainability at Shahi, and worker well-being focuses on providing a safe and healthy environment and creating opportunities for growth.
In a study with the Good Business Lab, we observed that Replacing fluorescent lights with LEDs reduces energy consumption by roughly 85%, reducing the average indoor temperature by 2.4°C. Incidentally, a transition to LED lights also increases the workers’ productivity on the shop floor. 83% of all the lights at Unit 23 comprise LED lighting. We launched a campaign to replace conventional T8 task lamps with LED lighting for individual workers’.
What does it really take to pull it off?
With conscious consumerism on the rise, and the industry grappling with limited resources, the beloved go-to pair of denim will have to transform itself into its most low-impact versions that require minimal resources — and also maximize its life cycle. This means that manufacturers and brands have a pivotal role in revolutionizing the industry right from the designing stage.
Shahi invested significantly in state-of-the-art machine equipment to upgrade the factory and laundry facilities. To name a few of our many initiatives in the Denims Division—
Laser machines from Jeanologia,
Chemical auto dosing,
Using Ozone, e-Flow, and other water-efficient technologies,
Developing a single-window chemical purchase window to prevent the entry of restricted chemicals, and
Collaborating with the best chemical suppliers.
Making it even better
But, Shahi is not stopping here. Our teams constantly look for ways to produce denim wear, maintaining Laundry 5.Zero principles; or synonymously ‘The Jeans of the Future.’ The key is to find the perfect set of equipment and technologies that complement each other in energy, water, and chemical consumption.
We are working on additional strategies like:
Unit 23 showcases sustainable operations at every step of the way and progressively eliminates processes that degrade the environment in bringing a piece of denim alive. We look forward to what the future of the denim industry beholds.
At Shahi, we believe in sharing our experiences and learning with all the stakeholders in the fashion industry and beyond. This is an ongoing post to share insights from our speaking engagements in 2021. Read insights from previous years’ engagements: 2020, 2019.
December 14, 2021 | SLCP Signatory Webinar
Manjunatha Sriramaiah, Assistant General Manager of Compliance at Shahi spoke at the Social Labour Convergence Program Signatory Webinar 2021 held in December. He highlighted how Shahi became an early signatory to SLCP owing to the program’s numerous benefits, including value-added service for our customers, capacity building for our employees, and the tool’s credibility. Currently, 76% of our facilities have completed the SLCP self-assessment, saving us 4,416 hours due to reduced audits.
December 14, 2021 | #ETConvergenceSeries Industry 4.0: Connected Operations for smart manufacturing
Our Chief Technology Officer, Puneesh Lamba was featured on a panel at the coveted ET Convergence Series. He spoke about automated and smart manufacturing in the apparel industry and the potential it holds to develop more robust businesses. This panel was organized by The Economic Times and powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Deloitte. Other esteemed guests on the panel represented MTR Foods, DP World, Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Carl Zeiss and Sigma Electric Manufacturing.
December 9, 2021 | Business for Social Responsibility
How to Enable a Just, Fair, and Inclusive Transition to Circular Fashion by BSR
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) organized this panel discussion to launch the report ‘Keeping Workers in the Loop.’ The conversation revolved around the opportunities around circular fashion while emphasizing its impact on the job market for garment workers, especially women. Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Organizational Development, spoke about the context of circular economy and how the responsibility of a manufacturer is not just limited to recycling but also includes women in circular jobs. Incorporating their traditional techniques of repair, upcycle, and the like into the circular models makes for a more collaborative model. We must endeavor to ensure good quality jobs that align with frameworks such as SLCP.
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager, Organizational Development, was invited to co-host a series on the fourth season of the Manufactured podcast hosted by Kim Van der Weerd. These episodes were in conversation with Matthew Wallace, CEO of DXM. Inc
DXM is a technology-driven on-demand manufacturing company co-owned by Shahi Exports, Brandix, MAS Holdings, Busana Apparel Group, and Carhartt. Gauri and Matthew speak about how building a soft relationship between various stakeholders in the industry is equally important as technological innovation in ensuring circular business models.
The Sankalp Global Summit was a three-day event that saw over 2521 delegates from 104 countries. Rajneesh Rai, General Manager, Environmental Sustainability, spoke on the panel ‘Getting to Net Zero – the Role of the Private Sector’ on Shahi’s tremendous progress and leading the way in being part of the solution by setting bold commitments to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions.
He highlighted some of the key achievements at Shahi, such as the Cradle to Cradle Certification for the ‘Arth Collection,’ declaring Science-Based Targets at some of our factories, among others. He also pointed out how favorable government policies and commercially viable technologies will help stakeholders transform into a sustainable ecosystem.
October 13, 2021 | Sedex South Asia 2021
SEDEX is a membership organization that provides online platforms to manage and improve the working conditions in the global supply chains. Srinivasa Rao Venkatesh, Chief Compliance Officer at Shahi spoke at the ‘Managing Supply Chain Risks in the Textile Industry,’ highlighting some of the risks faced by the industry, such as health and safety, licensing, and working hours.
These further expand to post-lockdown challenges, including job losses, and issues affecting migrant workers. He concluded by enumerating potential solutions we deployed at Shahi to enhance capacity building, monitoring, workforce empowerment, and providing a fair and respectful workplace.
September 9, 2021 | PI Apparel
PI Apparel is a membership community for apparel and footwear manufacturers that engage with the industry’s challenges and technologies. PI Apparel organized a sustainability spotlight in September where our Head of Organizational Development, Anant Ahuja, moderated the session on ‘What are the Practical Steps We Need to Take in Terms of Infrastructure, People & Technology to Underpin a More Sustainable Operation’? The session focused on the culture of sustainability among different organizations and how brands and suppliers can leverage technology to drive sustainability. The key to an impactful journey towards sustainability is collaboration at the core of business models.
September 1-2, 2021 | Thrive 2021, KGA Managers’ Conference
This year, KGA Manager’s Conference engaged with the theme ‘Lead with Empathy, Win with Agility’ to discuss the challenges and risks triggered by the pandemic. Anant Ahuja, the Head of Organizational Development at Shahi, participated in the ‘Sustainability: Imperatives & Roadblocks’ session.
He spoke about how at Shahi, collaboration with brands and research institutions supplement sustainable practices. Examples include the ZDHC Roadmap to zero programs, NIFT Chair 4.0, Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold products, and a trial with HKRITA. He also shared a few suggestions on how KMART Group as a brand can help suppliers on their journey towards becoming sustainable. Here, sharing knowledge with suppliers, developing a capacity plan, and small interventions such as sourcing closer to the market and consolidation of shipments are a few steps that can considerably impact suppliers.
August 2, 2021 | Tamarind Chutney
A Webinar on ‘Technology and Innovation in Circular Fashion’
The webinar was co-organized by Tamarind Chutney and Chintan (Environmental Research and Action Group) with the support of Fredrik Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation. The panelists discussed the growing global recognition for moving from a wasteful linear supply chain to a closed-loop, a circular one.
Gauri Sharma, Senior Manager of the Organizational Development team, spoke about the need for innovations and technology to solve critical challenges and enable this transition. She described how Shahi is working on projects such as Cradle to Cradle products, HKRITA- SAP, microbial dyeing, and recycling, among others. She also spoke about suppliers’ challenges, including the price-sensitive nature of the industry, transactional and short-term relationships with brands, and lack of transparency.
July 15, 2021 | Walmart Global Sourcing Sustainability (Regenerative Retailer) Summit
The summit explored how the suppliers can work together with brands actively to pursue sustainability goals aimed at sourcing responsibly, eliminating waste and emissions, selling sustainable products, and protecting nature.
In the virtual session, he shared Shahi’s vision of ‘doing more with fewer resources’ along with the company’s progress in improving its impact in four distinct areas: energy, chemicals, water, and materials.
June 1-4, 2021 | United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum
The UN Human Rights Office for Southeast Asia organized five virtual sessions at the 2021 UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum. Anant Ahuja, Head of the Organizational Development at Shahi, spoke at ‘The Next Decade of Migration, Fashion and Human Rights’ panel, centered around the role, vulnerabilities, and experiences of migrant workers and the impact of future business trends on them, especially the female labor in the fashion supply chain.
He discussed a few practical examples of how Shahi is contributing to the wellbeing of migrant workers including implementing our skill development program since 2013, establishing the Migrant Support Centre in 2021, and our goal to provide access to vaccines to our entire workforce.
April 27-29, 2021 | Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference
The two-day event organized by the Innovation Forum addressed how apparel brands can adapt practices to deliver on growing stakeholder expectations and drive circularity while reducing the climate impact on the fashion supply chain. Anant Ahuja, Head of Organisational Development at Shahi spoke about the challenges, particularly the power imbalance faced in the textile industry, and how adhering to practices such as on-time payments and making long-term commitments with suppliers will help improve the buyer-supplier relationship.
April 13, 2021 | Transformer’s Foundation x Manufactured Live Event
The live panel discussion organized by Tranformer’s Foundation and Manufactured Podcast focused on consolidation and vertical integration in the fashion supply chain in a post-pandemic world, and how vertical integration supports sustainability within the suppliers. Anant Ahuja, Head of the Organizational Development at Shahi, reflected on Shahi’s journey and the values of sustainability and worker wellbeing that have been passed over generations. In the session, we discussed the several benefits of being vertically integrated including improved traceability, speed, cost, and time-saving mechanisms. Shahi hopes to bring together manufacturing expertise to further improve the vertical integration across the industry.
Watch a recording of the full panel discussion:
February 24- 26, 2021 | ReWire: Sustainability 2021
This 3-day virtual event was organized by MOTIF and The Mills Fabrica with selected disruptors in the sustainability industry. The event spotlighted emerging ecosystem standards, new materials, and a pathway towards circularity to fuel innovation across the fashion supply chain.
On the panel, “The infrastructure of sustainability” on February 24, 2021, we talked about our approach towards energy conservation and clean energy transition. In 2019-20, 77% of the electrical energy consumption across Shahi was carbon neutral. On February 25, 2021, we presented our new research project with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel. We are reclaiming textile waste to grow cotton more efficiently as a way to support cotton farmers. Register for free to access the session recordings view more.
February 23, 2021 | Manufactured Podcast, Season 3
Manufactured is a podcast started in 2020 to provide an insider perspective on sustainability in the fashion supply chain. Two members of Shahi’s Organizational Development team, Anant Ahuja and Gauri Sharma were invited to speak for the latest double-episode which is now in its third season.
We believe in the power of being transparent, sharing our experiences, and gaining valuable feedback to improve further through platforms like Manufactured. Part 1 of the podcast covers Shahi’s journey over the last 45 years, and our perspective on collaboration between buyers and suppliers to drive sustainability. Part 2 of the podcast covers how Shahi has benefitted from becoming a vertically integrated supplier, and insights on our collaboration to drive circularity in the fashion supply chain.
February 19, 2021 | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), MBA Session on Supply Chain Sustainability
The session organized by HKUST as a part of their MBA Program focused on sustainability considerations in the global supply chains. We were invited as a guest speaker to offer the MBA students a perspective on how Shahi, India’s largest apparel manufacturer, and exporter, embrace sustainability through focused social and environmental initiatives. The interactive session included questions from the students on the challenges of implementing a multitude of worker wellbeing programs, disseminating best practices across the industry, and managing a large workforce during the COVID-19 crisis.
Please write back to us at od@shahi.co.in for more information.
In 2013, India became the first country in the world to legally mandate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with the introduction of Section 135 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013. CSR was introduced to make businesses pay more attention to ways they can positively impact society and the environment. The law requires companies with a certain turnover and profitability to spend 2% of their average net profit for the past three years on CSR. The CSR budget can be invested in specified areas such as promoting education, eradicating hunger, promoting gender equality, and environmental sustainability. Due to its mandatory nature, the CSR regime in India has the potential to greatly support more capital infusion into the social and environmental sector, thus supporting the country in achieving national and global development goals. However some have criticized this mandate, claiming that CSR must be voluntary or else it is effectively a corporate tax. Nonetheless, eight years since it was first introduced, the CSR mandate remains in place and has been further fine tuned and optimized to ensure companies invest in positive impact.
Focusing on COVID-19 relief in 2021
One of the ways the CSR mandate has been updated is to encourage companies to support their communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. India is currently recovering from a devastating second wave of COVID-19, as the spread continues to have a damaging impact on the health and livelihoods of millions of people across the country. At Shahi, we are leveraging our CSR funds to support our communities by providing ration kits to migrant workers infected with COVID-19 through our Migration Support Center (MSC), donating medical equipment to local hospitals, and other community relief activities based on needs assessments.
Shahi’s approach to CSR
Shahi was established in 1974 by a visionary female entrepreneur Mrs. Sarla Ahuja who started her journey as a sewing machine operator in a local apparel factory in New Delhi. For over 45 years now, we have been serving the communities in which we operate with a special focus on the employment and empowerment of women from low-income backgrounds. Working within the Government guidelines on CSR, our initiatives are guided by the following core commitments:
To contribute to social, economic, and environmental development initiatives in the communities in which we operate and the society at large
To ensure all CSR initiatives undertaken by us have a long-term sustainable and positive impact on marginalized populations
Our initiatives are based on needs assessment and consultation with communities and local governments. We implement our initiatives directly through our internal teams and also partner with expert organizations, specialized non-government organizations, and local implementation agencies.
Our CSR policy has been recently revised as per the provisions of the January 2021 amendment in the Companies Act. This amendment lays greater emphasis on compliance with the law and deeper involvement of businesses in CSR initiatives. Our policy includes the scope and applicability of our CSR initiatives, governance structure, guiding principles of selection, implementation, and monitoring, and expenditure, along with a detailed Annual Action Plan for all the projects undertaken by the company.
Based on the need assessment, we have identified the following focus areas to implement our CSR initiatives:
Education – Good school infrastructure improves the quality of education and the experiences of school learning. We support education in Government schools by focused interventions on infrastructure development, provision for drinking water and sanitation, and repair and renovation of school buildings. Also support undergraduate scholarship programs for students from low-income backgrounds.
“We are thankful to Shahi Exports for providing desks, benches, and sports equipment to our school. Our students are happy with comfortable sitting arrangements, and they are really enjoying their Physical Education classes with new equipment. Many new learning opportunities will also come up with a beautifully created Science Lab under Shahi’s CSR initiatives for our students from Grade 3 to 10.” Mr. Shivappa, Head Master, Government Primary School, Hootagali, Mysore, Karnataka
Community infrastructure – We support community infrastructure development such as public toilets, and bus shelters, etc. As road safety is crucial to saving lives and preventing injuries, our initiatives also focus on tilling roads, construction of skywalks, provision of traffic safety equipment such as barricades, and construction of bus shelters, etc.
Drinking Water – Water is a fundamental human need, yet many people lack access to safe drinking water leading to several water-related ailments. Understanding this need, we provide RO water filtration plants, water coolers, and storage tanks at public places, migrant worker hostels, police stations, and government dispensaries.
The welfare of migrant workers – Migrant workers in urban areas face several challenges. We have partnered with Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society to implement a Migration Support Center project in Bengaluru, Karnataka. H&M and Good Business Lab have extended their support as design partners on this project which aims to support migrant workers with psychological, social, and informational services to help them settle in new urban environments.
Environmental protection – We strive to grow our business whilst reducing the environmental impacts of our operations. Under this focus area, we prioritize efforts such as tree plantation and spreading environmental awareness.
Health – Women from low-income backgrounds often lack access to basic health information and services that affect their overall wellbeing. In partnership with not-for-profit organizations such as Good Business Lab, Family Planning Association of India, Samwada, and Basic Needs India, our community health interventions focus on providing women’s health information and services, including sexual and reproductive health, and psychological wellbeing services.
Supporting Research and Development Projects – Through collaboration with academic institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology and not-for-profit organizations such as Good Business Lab, we support research on technology development under Industry 4.0 and the wellbeing of low-income workers in labor-intensive industries.
The way forward
As a responsible and progressive organization, we will continue to strategically develop our CSR initiatives to benefit the community and the environment. We are open to collaboration with like-minded organizations to scale up our initiatives and add new projects to scale impact.
“ As a leading apparel exporter, our core principles of sustainable business will continue to drive us. Along with exporting apparel, we also intend to export our learnings and ideas from our work in CSR.” Anant Ahuja, Head – Organizational Development, and CSR Committee Member, Shahi Exports
Further, Shahi, along with 
Shahi launched the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning project in association with 
