Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and the Textiles Committee (TC) have signed an MoU to promote the procurement of recycled and upcycled textile products made from textile waste, scrap and second-hand clothing through government procurement.

The partnership aims to establish a “Waste-to-Value-to-Market” ecosystem, enabling textile waste to be converted into value-added products and sold to government buyers through GeM.

Under the agreement, the Textiles Committee will identify, verify and certify eligible producers, while also supporting capacity building, market research and development of technical specifications. GeM will create dedicated categories for recycled and upcycled textiles, facilitate seller onboarding and connect them with government buyers.

The initiative will particularly focus on women-led enterprises, MSMEs, artisans, local businesses, recyclers and other circular-economy players, with the objective of creating an inclusive and sustainable textile ecosystem.

The collaboration is expected to expand market opportunities for recycled products while supporting resource conservation, sustainable livelihoods and India’s transition towards a circular economy.