The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap detailing the textile industry’s transition to low-carbon thermal energy. Thermal processes, including dyeing, drying, and finishing, account for more than half of the industry’s GHG emissions. The roadmap outlines scalable solutions and investment pathways to help stakeholders decarbonize these high-energy processes.
Key recommendations include fuel switching from coal to biomass and natural gas, deploying solar thermal systems, and integrating heat recovery technologies. The roadmap also calls for increased adoption of digital process monitoring and AI-enabled energy management systems.
According to Aii, industry-wide decarbonization of thermal energy could reduce emissions by 49% by 2030 if implemented at scale. However, the roadmap acknowledges substantial barriers such as capital investment gaps, lack of technical capacity in SMEs, and policy inertia in key manufacturing countries.
The initiative is supported by global brands and multilaterals, including Target, PVH, HSBC, and the Clean Energy Investment Accelerator. Pilot projects are already underway in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India. The report urges governments to integrate thermal decarbonization into national climate strategies and offer fiscal incentives for early adopters.
