Phase two will expand its focus to textile waste, with plans to upskill waste pickers to become textile entrepreneurs or sorters, creating formal jobs and increasing income opportunities. Credit: H&M Foundation

The project’s second phase, which will now run until 2026, will have new partners that will enhance the project’s impact, including Sparsha, which will focus on supporting children of waste pickers, and Udhyam Learning Foundation, which will assist over 200 micro-entrepreneurs developed in the first phase.

Additionally, BBC Media Action will continue efforts to raise awareness about the value of waste picking and boost dignity and professional pride within India.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Phase two will expand its focus to textile waste, with plans to upskill waste pickers to become textile entrepreneurs or sorters, creating formal jobs and increasing income opportunities. Collaborating with Circular Apparel Innovation Factory and Enviu, Saamuhika Shakti hopes to divert hundreds of thousands of tonnes of textile waste from landfills while positively impacting hundreds of livelihoods.

Saamuhika Shakti’s focus on collaboration is at the core of the project’s expansion. Partners have integrated joint key performance indicators into the design to ensure the initiative continues to scale.

Last year, the waste picking project resulted in the creation of 152m buttons in India partly made from post-consumer PET waste and were featured on garments that were sold worldwide.

The project aims to support the fashion industry’s shift from a linear to a circular economy by harnessing recycled materials collected by Bengaluru’s waste pickers, such as PET and aluminium, which are already being turned into jewellery and garment buttons for global brands.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

On 5 September, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and the H&M Foundation officially launched the Open Lab, a new initiative aimed at advancing sustainable practices within the textile and fashion industries.