By MK Prabhakar
For Sulochana Cotton Mills, sustainability has been more than a response to an industry-wide trend. Over the years, the Tirupur-based textile major has built a strong reputation for developing and adopting innovative solutions aimed at reducing waste and promoting circularity across the textile value chain. Its pioneering initiatives in PET bottle recycling and post-industrial waste recycling have been among the key highlights of this journey.
With sustainability continuing to remain an important part of its growth strategy, Sulochana is now looking at taking its efforts a step further. The company is planning to expand its manufacturing footprint beyond its existing six units, while simultaneously investing in textile-to-textile recycling, smart manufacturing and garmenting.
We caught up with Sabhari Girish, Head of Sustainability, Sulochana Cotton Mills, for an exclusive interaction to understand the company’s performance during FY 2025-26 and its plans for the coming years.
Navigating a Challenging FY 2025-26
Reflecting on the group’s performance during FY 2025-26, Girish said the year presented its share of challenges, particularly due to tariff-related uncertainties.
“Just as in the case with others in the textile industry, the sailing was not so smooth for us. The tariff turbulence came as a dampener. When it comes to fabric, we have a lot of exposure to the US market, so that played a spoilsport,” he said.
However, the company’s strong market relationships and continued focus on innovation helped it navigate the challenging environment.
“The trust that we have built in the market and our innovation focus helped us navigate the choppy waters without any major trouble. We explored other markets. The signing of the FTAs has come as good news. Gradually, we find traction as the FTAs get operational,” Girish added.
Advancing Textile-to-Textile Recycling
One of the key initiatives on Sulochana’s near-term agenda is textile-to-textile recycling, with a particular focus on recycling polyester waste back into polyester.
Explaining the need for the initiative, Girish said, “If you see globally, only 1% of textiles are recycled. Even within this small percentage, cotton is predominantly recycled. More than 95% of cotton is getting recycled when it comes to post-industrial waste, particularly cutting waste from apparel.”
However, polyester recycling remains a significant challenge, particularly in India.
“There is still a dearth of technology that will enable recycling polyester back into polyester, at least in the case of India. This is an area of concern because much of the polyester waste is going to landfills, which creates even more problems. We have come up with a technology where polyester gets converted back into polyester,” he said.
The company plans to commission the new facility by September 2027. The building work is already progressing at the site, which will be an addition to Sulochana’s existing polyester fibre manufacturing setup at Chinnamalai, Tirupur.
Smart Manufacturing and Garmenting Expansion
Sulochana, which has also been making rapid strides in garmenting, is preparing to inaugurate a new state-of-the-art garmenting facility. According to Girish, the unit will be an Industry 5.0 smart factory, incorporating automation from cutting through to final delivery.
“We are establishing a state-of-the-art Industry 5.0 smart factory, in Tirupur, which will feature automation ranging from cutting to pressing and packing. We are targeting to get it operational by end November 2026,” he said.
The group has also signed a MoU with the Tamil Nadu Government for establishing another garmenting unit in Pudukottai. The proposed smart factory will have around 1,000 machines and is expected to provide employment to around 1,500 people in the region. “We expect it to be operational by the end of 2027,” Girish concluded.