Quick answer: what does sustainability mean at GTFL?
For Garware Technical Fibres Ltd. (GTFL), sustainability is an operating discipline, not a side programme. In FY2024-25 the company generated 4,641 MT of waste and sent just 28.54 MT to disposal. More than 99% was recycled or reused. Its plants run on zero liquid discharge, and it reprocesses 1,774 MT of plastic waste a year in-house. It has also set three public targets: zero waste to landfill at all manufacturing sites by 2028, 75% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. For investors, that means measurable progress, regulatory readiness and products built for a circular economy.
Fifty years in the making: a short history
GTFL was founded in Pune in 1976 by Padma Bhushan Abasaheb Garware, in a joint venture with Wall Industries, USA, to pioneer synthetic cordage in India. Over five decades it grew into a multi-divisional technical textiles company. Today it serves customers in more than 75 countries, and exports make up 60.7% of turnover.
More than a decade ago, GTFL made sustainable solutions the primary focus of its R&D. In aquaculture, it led the industry's shift from conventional nylon nets to high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which lasts longer and needs replacing less often. In 2016, its engineers began extruding metallic copper directly into HDPE fibres instead of coating nets with copper paint. That work became the V2 net. The FY2024-25 Corporate Sustainability Report, Woven for Impact, brings the full picture together in one structured disclosure, built on the company's Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) data.
Why circularity matters to investors now
The global case for circularity is stark, and research quantifies it:
- Recycling is rare. Only 9% of the world's plastic waste is ultimately recycled, according to the OECD's Global Plastics Outlook.
- Plastics drive climate risk. Plastics account for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from production from fossil fuels.
- Ocean pollution is a business risk. About 2% of all commercial fishing gear is lost at sea every year, according to Australian national science agency research.
- Copper is under scrutiny. Norway's Institute of Marine Research recorded 1,539 tonnes of copper used as antifouling in Norwegian aquaculture in a single year. Up to 28% of it can leach into the sea from unrinsed nets.
GTFL's largest export markets are in aquaculture, so these findings shape demand directly. Customers and regulators want lower-impact nets, verified data and producer responsibility. A company that already delivers these is better placed to win business and less exposed to regulatory risk.
Circularity, waste and pollution prevention in numbers
| Metric (FY2024-25) | Value |
|---|---|
| Total waste generated | 4,641 MT |
| Recycled | 4,403 MT |
| Reused | 204 MT |
| Disposed | 28.54 MT (about 0.6%) |
| Plastic waste reprocessed in-house (own) | 466 MT |
| Plastic waste bought from outside vendors for recycling | 1,308 MT |
| EPR plastic packaging recycling target | 191 MT, obligations fulfilled |
| Water withdrawal | 159,463 kL (5.073 kL per MT of production) |
| Effluent discharged outside premises | Zero (zero liquid discharge) |
| Scope 1 + 2 emissions | 30,014 tCO2e (0.955 tCO2e per MT) |
| Renewable energy used | 68,923 GJ |
Two figures stand out. The first is the 1,308 MT of plastic waste GTFL buys from outside vendors to recycle. That makes the company a net remover of plastic from the wider economy, not just a manager of its own waste. The second is full compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations under India's plastic waste rules, which matters as enforcement tightens.
Products designed for circularity
GTFL's R&D team of 22 scientists holds 28 patents across a portfolio of more than 20,000 products. Four innovations carry the circularity agenda:
- HDPE netting. Replacing nylon in aquaculture reduces lifecycle impact and extends service life, so fewer nets are made and discarded.
- Renew Ropes. These ropes are made from 100% recycled material, which cuts dependence on virgin polymer in marine use.
- V2 Net Technology. Copper sits inside the fibre instead of in a paint coating, which reduces copper release into the sea. GTFL estimates each V2 net avoids roughly 3,400 kg of copper compared with an antifouling-painted nylon net.
- Sapphire SCFR. This high-strength, lightweight braided predator net uses less material for the same protection and is recyclable at end of life.
These are not niche products. They sit at the core of GTFL's aquaculture solutions, and customer case studies show how they perform in commercial salmon farming. The innovation philosophy behind them explains how GTFL's R&D sets its priorities.
Pollution prevention: water, air and the ocean
Water. A combined effluent and sewage treatment plant with 320 KLD capacity treats all trade and domestic effluent to tertiary standard. Treated water goes back into cooling towers, cleaning, flushing and gardening, and nothing is discharged outside the premises.
Air. GTFL reports its non-greenhouse-gas emissions: NOx at 2.74 t, SOx at 7.11 t and particulate matter at 50.05 t a year. The company is partly replacing coal with biomass briquettes in its boilers, electrifying forklifts and installing high-efficiency motors, all of which reduce combustion-related emissions.
The ocean. Through V2 nets and recycled ropes, GTFL's products help its customers prevent pollution, not just its own plants. This is where the company's impact extends furthest beyond its factory gates.
The roadmap: targets investors can track
GTFL's roadmap runs in three phases:
- FY2024-25, foundation (complete): governance set-up, 3R practices (reduce, reuse, recycle), waste segregation and renewable sourcing through open access and rooftop solar.
- FY2025-26, scale-up (in progress): reuse of packaging, recycling of HDPE and polypropylene waste streams, and energy and water audits.
- FY2026-27, transformation (planned): deeper water reuse, routing of all relevant waste streams through authorised channels, and a carbon neutrality pathway.
Zero waste to landfill at all manufacturing sites by 2028. 75% of total energy from renewable sources by 2030. Carbon neutrality by 2060.
A Board-level Director is accountable for sustainability decisions. The company holds ISO 45001:2018 certification for occupational health and safety, and 100% of its value chain partners, by value, are covered by its working-conditions assessment. The work has also been recognised externally, with an Environment Excellence Award and a Net Zero Award in 2025-26. For more on governance and disclosures, see the Investors section.
Frequently asked questions
What is GTFL's waste recovery rate?
In FY2024-25, GTFL recycled or reused 4,607 MT of the 4,641 MT of waste it generated, which is more than 99%. Only 28.54 MT went to disposal.
What are GTFL's sustainability targets?
Zero waste to landfill at all manufacturing sites by 2028, 75% of total energy from renewable sources by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2060.
Does GTFL discharge wastewater?
No. Its plants operate on zero liquid discharge, and all treated water is reused on site.
How do GTFL's products support circularity?
Renew Ropes use 100% recycled material, HDPE nets last longer than nylon, and V2 nets reduce copper pollution in aquaculture.
Is GTFL compliant with EPR rules for plastics?
Yes. It has completed its registrations and returns and met its EPR obligations, including a 191 MT recycling target for plastic packaging.
See GTFL's sustainability goals, solutions and reporting in one place.
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