Indian manufacturer Shahi Exports receives Cradle to Cradle certification

Shahi Exports, an Indian woven apparel and textiles manufacturer, has been awarded Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold under Version 3.1, an internationally recognized benchmark of safer, more sustainable products produced for the circular economy.

The collection of products that have received this certification is called Arth. the Arth line consisted of women’s dresses created for C&A, a fast-fashion retailer in Europe. Shahi’s weaving mill produced the cloth for the Arth line, while its apparel factory sewed the outfits. The whole collection is produced from GOTS-certified organic cotton, with over 96% of it being quickly renewable cotton.

Furthermore, their Zero Liquid Discharge mill recovered 86% of the water used in fabric processing. The final goods are carbon-neutral to the fullest extent possible. The items are manufactured in accordance with circularity principles and are 100% recyclable.

Ruchi Asija, vice president, marketing, Shahi Exports, said that they appreciate their partner C&A’s collaboration in developing this extremely creative, first-of-its-kind circular product. C&A and Shahi collaborated throughout the design process to identify the best alternative materials, chemicals, and other raw materials to reach the Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold level.

The Cradle to Cradle Goods Innovation Institute, a worldwide non-profit devoted to fueling innovation for the circular economy via products that have a beneficial impact on people and the earth, awards Cradle to Cradle Certified.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard is used by product designers, manufacturers, and brands all over the globe as a revolutionary route for developing and manufacturing goods that have a beneficial impact on people and the environment. This recognized product standard is based on William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart’s Cradle to Cradle design concepts.

Products are evaluated for environmental and social performance across 5 key sustainability categories: product circularity, material health, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness, in order to earn certification. For each category, the product is given an accomplishment level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum).

Shahi received a Platinum rating for Material Health and a Gold rating for the other four standard categories. Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG) was the primary assessment body for this procedure, while MBDC was the material health assessment body.

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s vice president of strategy and development, Christina Raab, said that the Arth collection is a powerful example of how suppliers and brands can work together to design and create materials and products that meet shared objectives for circularity and sustainability. Shahi Exports is showcasing not just the scope of possibilities for supplier-brand relationships, but also the tremendous innovation and leadership potential of India’s textile mills, by attaining one of the highest levels of Cradle to Cradle accreditation for the collection.

C&A’s global sourcing and sustainability team said that Shahi continues to be a staunch strategic partner for C&A and a driving force for innovation across the global fashion supply chain. When they first started bringing Cradle to Cradle Certified goods to market, they knew Shahi would be a crucial partner in helping them scale Cradle to Cradle across categories. They look forward to collaborating on Cradle to Cradle Certified technologies and other forward-thinking environmental initiatives.