Apparel December 2019 | Page 73

ENTREPRENEUR SPEAK raw-material portfolio to diversify whilst also improving our performance. To match this, bio-organic clothes made from rose petals, aloe vera, milk, orange, and bamboo are emerging as sure-shot practices. Biosynthetic fibres consist of polymers that are made from renewable resources, either wholly or partly. Biopolymers, which are commercially available today, come from renewable sugars, starches, and lipids (first- generation feedstocks such as corn, sugar cane, beets, plant oils, etc.) and include polymers that are 100 per cent as well as partially bio-based. Various technologies are under development to produce biosynthetics from a broader range of raw materials including biomass (resources from agriculture and forestry known as second- generation) and algae, fungi, and bacteria (third- generation elements). While many of these have been piloted at concept-level, they are not currently commercially available. So I am hoping that these will be brought forth. WHAT IS IN STORE FOR MEDUSA SOURCE FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR SO? We are looking forward to bringing more luxury brands into the Indian market for production in sustainable factories. Source WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE EMERGING IN THE FUTURE? Reports say that global demand for textiles is expected to more than double by 2050. There is space and opportunity within our current “REUSING AND RECYCLING HAVE BECOME MORE PREVALENT, BOTH WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND INDUSTRIES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.” based development. The central concept behind sustainable development is to enable the biosphere to provide ‘environmental services’ to the population by means of renewable processes, rather than investing in non-renewable materials. Reusing and recycling have become more prevalent, both within the framework of industrial processes and industries in their own right. Increased industrial responsibility for ‘clean’ production processes, comprehensive supervision, treatment of all industrial plants (and not only individual ones), increased investment in pollution-prevention measures, waste treatment in the initial stages of production, and the introduction of changes in processes and material- use in the second stage are some of the many developments that I think will have a positive impact on the industry. In addition, growing awareness among the Government and public about environmental risks, increasing influence of powerful environmental bodies (such as Green Peace) on industrial decision-making, and increased insurance costs to cover environmental damages are also some ways in which we can sensitise the industry towards environmental sustainability and move it in the right direction. APPAREL I December 2019 I 71