Arvind Ltd and Gap Inc Unveil Global Water Innovation Centre in Proximity to Ahmedabad

In a joint effort to address the water challenges confronting the global textile and apparel industry, Arvind Ltd and Gap Inc officially opened the Global Water Innovation Centre For Action (GWICA) on Saturday. The center, situated at Arvind's Santej unit near Ahmedabad, serves as a cutting-edge facility for testing industrial effluents and functions as an innovation hub for apparel companies and other stakeholders.

Punit Lalbhai, Vice-Chairman and Executive Director of Arvind Ltd, and Richard Dickson, President and CEO of Gap Inc, inaugurated the center during a formal ceremony at Santej. Lalbhai highlighted the state-of-the-art laboratory within GWICA, capable of testing wastewater streams globally and providing analysis and recommendations for improvement. The center is set to receive NABL accreditation, allowing third-party approval for results.

Lalbhai emphasized that the testing aspect will function as a separate profit center, contributing to financing GWICA's activities. He expressed the inclusive nature of the center, stating, "Gap and Arvind are laying only the first brick. This center is for everyone. We will publicize the engagement model as this evolves."

At the core of GWICA is an R&D laboratory designed to be a launching pad for piloting and incubating innovative water solutions. Lalbhai underscored Arvind's commitment to water conservation, highlighting that the company has been using fresh water exclusively for human consumption at its units, while recycled water is employed in textile production. "We need as much water as the city of Ahmedabad needs for drinking to make our textiles. Not a drop of fresh water is used in textile production. It is all recycled," Lalbhai added.

GWICA aims to be an open-source repository for water management in apparel manufacturing and will provide comprehensive training programs to support industry-wide sustainability efforts. The collaborative initiative signifies a commitment to address environmental concerns and promote responsible water usage in the textile and apparel sector.

HBL