A four-year European Union-funded initiative to advance sustainable cotton farming and textile manufacturing across Tamil Nadu concluded on 15 September. Coordinated by Fairtrade International, the SWITCH-Asia project reached more than 9,500 cotton farmers and 700 textile manufacturers in India, building digital tools and market connections between Indian suppliers and European buyers and showing that responsible production can be practical and commercially viable.
- Eleven Fairtrade producer organisations covering over 9,500 farmer members participated in carbon measurement and reporting research throughout the project's four-year duration.
- Over 85% of the more than 700 manufacturers and producer organisations that received training were micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) operating in fragmented clusters with limited resources.
- More than 100 European Union and Indian companies, brands, and retailers explored sourcing opportunities from sustainable Fairtrade cotton supply chains in India during the project.
- A total of 36 confirmed sourcing commitments on Fairtrade terms from India were secured over the course of the project's four-year tenure.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE: The SWITCH-Asia project, formally titled Switching to Green & Fair Fashion: Advancing Sustainable Production and Consumption in Cotton & Textile Value Chains, concluded under Fairtrade International's coordination and European Union funding. Implementation was carried out by Fairtrade India and Partners in Change (PiC), with Max Havelaar France and Fairtrade Germany leading market-linkage activities between Indian suppliers and European buyers.
- The project brought together smallholder cotton farmers, textile manufacturers, industry associations, brands, and consumers across India, with a particular focus on the state of Tamil Nadu.
- India is the world's second-largest textile and garment producer, with 80% of its manufacturing capacity held by MSMEs operating in fragmented clusters with limited resources.
- The fashion and textile industry accounts for about 8–10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a challenge India is actively working to address.
ON THE GROUND: Over four years, the SWITCH-Asia project introduced more than 1,500 cotton farmer members to digital technologies based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), including micro-weather advisory and monitoring systems and circular bio-waste management solutions. Alongside this farm-level work, the project supported textile manufacturers across Tamil Nadu and connected Indian suppliers with buyers in Europe and India.
- More than 11 Fairtrade producer organisations, covering over 9,500 farmer members, were involved in the carbon measurement and reporting research conducted across the project's four-year duration.
- Training and advisory services helped MSMEs measure GHG emissions, water footprint, and chemical use for Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR)-based Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting.
- SustainSwitch was complemented by the Sustainability Clinic, a free on-demand technical helpline that supports manufacturers in navigating complex compliance requirements across the Tamil Nadu textile cluster.
WHAT COMES NEXT: The SWITCH-Asia project extended its reach beyond supply chain actors to engage consumers directly. The RE8-based Sustainable Fashion Consumption Youth Campaign, built around the principles of Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Recycle, and Restore, reached about 50,000 young people and urban consumers across Indian schools and colleges, and trained teachers now embed sustainable fashion concepts into classroom activities.
- The first Fairtrade Textile Forum, in Paris in October 2024, unveiled independent research showing Fairtrade organic and in conversion cotton had lower GHG emissions and water footprints than conventional cotton.
- Throughout the project, partnerships, tools, and resources were developed with the intention of continuing to operate beyond its conclusion in India's textile sector.
- Active since 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is funded by the European Union to support the transition towards sustainable consumption and production across Asia, working particularly with MSMEs.
WHAT THEY SAID
Over the past four years, this project has shown what is possible when we bring together farmers, manufacturers, businesses, brands, and other stakeholders across the textile value chain around a shared vision for sustainability. For Fairtrade India, it has been particularly important to translate sustainability ambitions into practical solutions that work for farmers and MSMEs on the ground, while also creating stronger connections to markets. I am confident that the tools, knowledge, and partnerships developed through the project will continue to support the transition towards a more resilient, responsible, and sustainable textile sector in India.
— Abhishek Jani
Chief Executive Officer
Fairtrade India
