EU Delegation Visits Panipat to Boost Circular Textile Ties
14 November 2025: A high-level European Parliament team visited Panipat’s Textile Recycling Cluster to deepen India–EU cooperation in circular textiles and sustainable trade innovation. A high-profile delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) visited the Panipat Textile Recycling Cluster, India’s largest hub for circular textile manufacturing and recycled products, as part of their official visit to India.
The delegation included seven Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and two senior INTA Secretariat officials, who were on a study mission to better understand India’s sustainability progress and explore new areas of collaboration between India and the European Union (EU) – particularly in circular textiles and the upcoming India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The visitors were warmly received by Parvinder Kadyan, Chairman of the Global Alliance for Textiles Sustainability (GATS), along with several industry leaders, sustainability advocates from Panipat, and representatives from the Foundation for MSME Clusters. Discussions focused on advancing textile circularity, improving trade competitiveness and aligning with emerging EU sustainability legislations, including Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
Known globally as India’s recycling capital, Panipat processes thousands of tons of textile waste daily and is renowned for converting post-industrial and post-consumer waste into high-quality fibers, yarns, and garments. The visit offered the delegation a close look at how India’s textile MSMEs are embracing technology upgrades, traceability systems, and global compliance practices to strengthen their role in the international circular economy.
The delegation also toured a leading recycling-based spinning facility, observing the transformation of discarded textiles into recycled fibers and yarns – showcasing India’s innovative and cost-efficient approach to sustainability, which supports low-impact, traceable, and resource-efficient production for global fashion and lifestyle brands.
Reflecting on the visit, Parvinder Kadyan stated “Panipat represents the spirit of circularity and resilience. Circularity is a global concept – it cannot be achieved in silos. Everyone has to play their part. With the right India-EU collaboration, we can build the world’s most responsible and resource-efficient textile ecosystem – creating green jobs, conserving resources, and proving that sustainability and profitability can grow together.”
The Members of the European Parliament praised India’s textile industry for its forward-thinking sustainability efforts and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to deeper cooperation in areas such as trade, circular manufacturing, and eco-innovation – paving the way for a stronger and more sustainable India-EU textile partnership.
