The global textile and garment industry, which plays a crucial role in economic growth and consumer behavior, has gained significant attention due to its environmental impact. As the sector continues to grow and operate in several countries, the negative impact on the environment is becoming more apparent (Matthews, 2015). This is particularly noticeable in Tirupur, India, which is the main focus of this assessment. This town, previously celebrated as a symbol of globalization’s advantages, today clearly illustrates how fast industrialization may result in an environmental disaster. As consumer awareness increases, there is a growing recognition of the pressing need to tackle the environmental catastrophe in the closet. We must analyze viable remedies due to the interrelated issues of pollution, regulatory deficiencies, and consumer demands (Verma, 2022). This essay aims to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of boycotting clothes made in India to solve the environmental pollution caused by the textile and garment industry, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that underscore the environmental crisis in our closets.
The textile industry’s environmental impact in India, as demonstrated by the catastrophe in Tirupur, is a complex and complicated problem. The previously prosperous textile center has now become closely associated with ecological deterioration. The water sources in Tirupur are currently saturated with a concerning mixture of chemicals, salts, and heavy metals, making them unfit for agricultural purposes and leading to serious health consequences among the local population (Matthews, 2015). This local situation reflects a worldwide trend, where the textile industry ranks as the second most significant contributor to water pollution, second only to agriculture. The repercussions go beyond pollution, as demonstrated by the demise of vital agricultural lands close to severely polluted streams, such as Bangladesh’s Buriganga River and Cambodia’s Mekong River (Kumar et al., 2021). The environmental disaster in Tirupur highlights the pressing necessity for comprehensive measures to alleviate the environmental impact of the textile sector.
Moreover, corruption and widespread regulatory hurdles are at the heart of the textile industry’s environmental catastrophe, which is most noticeable in Southeast and East Asia. Corruption is rampant in nations like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Burma, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, making it difficult for regulatory agencies to carry out adequate environmental monitoring (Bröcher, 2022). The pollution control boards in India are frequently understaffed, underfunded, and led by political appointees who lack scientific knowledge. Inadequacies in the regulatory institutions, especially pollution control boards, make it difficult for them to monitor and implement environmental standards adequately (Kumar et al., 2021). Polluting activities within the industry can remain due to the degraded regulatory environment, which in turn perpetuates environmental deterioration. The integrity of oversight processes is compromised by corruption, which allows harmful activities to flourish and weakens compliance with environmental requirements. Political appointments, inadequate financing, and a lack of scientific scrutiny within these regulatory agencies all contribute to the complex problems that make it hard to rein in the textile industry’s adverse effects on the environment.
Additionally, consumer expectations for low-cost clothing and the industry’s demand for profit margins create another problem. The fundamental issue stems from the conflict between consumer demands for cost-effectiveness and corporate accountability.
- Engaging in a boycott of clothing manufactured in India can have significant downsides, particularly in its impact on the Indian economy. Implementing such a boycott could result in adverse economic consequences for the already precarious garment sector, thereby impacting many employees (Bhooshan et al., 2022).
- Benefits of Boycotting Clothes Made in India. Although there are disadvantages, engaging in a boycott of Indian-made clothing can provide substantial advantages. Increasing awareness of the ecological consequences of the textile industry can effectively mobilize consumers worldwide (Dixit et al., 2021).
Despite drawbacks, boycotting Indian-made clothes can offer significant benefits. Raising awareness about the textile industry’s environmental impact is a decisive outcome, potentially mobilizing consumers globally.
- Raising Global Awareness: A boycott can elevate awareness on a global scale, drawing attention to the environmental crisis embedded in the textile industry (Velkar, 2021).
- Pressuring Industry Change: Consumer actions, especially on a mass scale, exert substantial pressure on companies to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices (Kadam, 2021).
- Fostering Global Cooperation: A boycott can catalyze international collaboration in tackling the broader environmental challenges posed by the textile industry.
References
Bhooshan, S., Praveen Pai, R., & Nandakumar, R. (2022). A sentiment analysis of a boycott movement on twitter. In Computer Networks and Inventive Communication Technologies: Proceedings of Fourth ICCNCT 2021 (pp. 313-324). Springer Singapore. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-3728-5_23
Bröcher, L. Z. (2022). Buy now, cry later: Examining factors influencing “flexible” consumers’ fashion choices and the extent of conflict between ethical intentions and actual consumption choices (Bachelor’s thesis, University of Twente). https://essay.utwente.nl/91299/
Dixit, J. S., Alavi, S., & Ahuja, V. (2021). Why apparel companies go green?. International Journal of Green Economics, 15(1), 20-32. https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJGE.2021.117666
Kadam, V. (2021). Creating Aatmanirbhar Bharat by Increasing Exports and Reducing Imports. Quest Journal of Management, 12(2), 55-60. https://www.crkimr.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CHETANA-Quest-Volume-XII-Issue-2-September-2021-C.R.K.I.M.R.-dt.-30.07.2022.pdf#page=61
Kumar, V., Kumari, P., Yadav, P., & Kumar, M. (2021). Ancient to contemporary—The saga of Indian handloom sector. https://nopr.niscpr.res.in/handle/123456789/58701
Matthews, A. (2015). The environmental crisis in your closet. Newsweek. Aug, 13. https://m.25jiaoyu.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/08/Newsweek-13-August-2015.pdf
Velkar, A. (2021). Swadeshi capitalism in colonial Bombay. The Historical Journal, 64(4), 1009-1034. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/historical-journal/article/abs/swadeshi-capitalism-in-colonial-bombay/7CA257B93E52C84B855913BEBF3DA6EE
Verma, P. (2022). Animosity leads to boycott and subsequent reluctance to buy: evidence from Sino Indian disputes. Review of International Business and Strategy, 32(3), 368-386. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/RIBS-07-2020-0075/full/html
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