A whirlwind of keynote speeches, official visits, conferences and webinars: My year as president of the SDC
By Ullhas Nimkar CCol FSDC
My presidential year was packed with official engagements. As I hand over the reins to the society’s new president Prof Chris Carr, here is a summary of the highlights of 2022/3, month by month.
April
While still president elect of the SDC, I was invited to the Digital Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Textile Manufacturing conference, organised by GIZ. At the Hotel Taj in Mumbai, I was part of a panel discussing dyeing and printing production, and the role of restrictions and standards. Also in April, I attended the ZDHC South Asia Regional Conference, also in Mumbai, and focused on its ambitious Roadmap to Zero Programme.
May
This month, as incoming president, I was a panel member at the inaugural Sustainable Solutions for Garment Manufacturers conference. I joined 285 in-person delegates from brands, manufacturers and academics, discussing collaboration, innovations, and implementation of best practices in sustainable chemical management. My contribution included a keynote speech and a talk about the history of denim. I introduced the SDC and encouraged those in attendance to become members. Part of the event was Denim Talks, a one-day conference organised by Gartex Texprocess in India, in association with the SDC, looking at technical innovation and ‘green’ initiatives in manufacturing, and attracting 100 delegates. This month I also presented a webinar on hidden chemicals in recycled textiles at the Inplastics Webinar Series – Understanding the circular economy for chemicals in plastics. Over 120 people logged in to the event organised by the Regional Center for Sustainable Consumption and Production of the Mediterranean Countries.
June
During June I was a jury panel member at the Research Conclave on Indigenous Technology Development for Specialty Textiles at VJTI College in Mumbai. The event, sponsored by India ITME Society, showcased various projects and research outputs relating to indigenous technological development for smart textiles.
July
A hybrid lecture on Improved Sustainable Environment-Friendly Green Technology for Textile Dyeing using Supercritical Fluid, organised by the Textile Association (India) Mumbai Unit was very successful, with good interaction between the speaker and participants.
August
The University of Mumbai’s virtual International Conference on Sustainability: Integrated and Scientific Approach featured 14 plenary speakers – including myself – from the industry, over three days. It was attended by over 1,000 students, academics and industry delegates. I presented a talk, Fast Fashion with 8000+ chemicals – Sustainable? During August I was invited by the Department of Fibres and Textile Processing Technology at ICT Mumbai to the Dr M V Nimkar Endowment Lecture, titled Complying with Changing and Challenging Industry Expectations. A total of 160 students, professors and industry people attended.
September
In September, I attended a video call with SADFA Committee members regarding collaborations. Also on my agenda was a visit to Sitra Co Meditech in Coimbatore, India. Also in Coimbatore was the SDC India’s EC Conference in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, at which I was guest of honour. Under discussion were colour education, SDC publications and testing standards. A total of 180 people were there.
November
While October was a quieter month for SDC business, things ramped up in November with a trip to the UK to attend the SDC Day of Celebration in York. I talked to the audience about my long career, passion for colour, and ambitions for a sustainable future. This month I also visited Colorifix, and The Worshipful Company of Dyers in London, and was awarded honorary membership of the AATCC. Next was the 5th International Conference Pakistan online, organised by the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. As a guest speaker, I presented on Sustainable Clothing 8 Billion: A Challenge.
December
I was a keynote speaker at the 9th Green Fashion India Soft conference, bringing students, fashion colleges and industry experts together to address social sustainability. There was a total of 30 speakers and 600 delegates at this event. Also this month, I was at a SDC EC event at Sophia Polytechnic, and then a Chamber of Commerce Committee Meeting in Pune.
January
My SDC business of 2023 began with a meeting with M Tech students at ICT, about aspects of sustainability in the leather, textile and footwear supply chain.
February
This month I was honoured to inaugurate the Dye-Chem World Exhibit as a guest of honour in Ludhiana, India.
March
March was another busy month. I presented a talk titled Clothing 8 Billion: Challenges to people, planet and profits at the Department of Fibres and Textile Processing Technology at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai for the 6th Late Prof W B Achwal Oration Endowment for the year 2023. More than 150 delegates were there. I was guest of honour at the Annual Fashion Show – Jamboree Nirmala Niketan and attended a stakeholders’ meeting on chemicals in textiles by Toxics Link, Dehli. At this event, I my presentation was titled Challenges on chemical management in the textile supply chain.
As my time as president came towards its close, I attended a webinar for the CPCB team on chemicals and colorant uses in dyehouses, and provided a virtual message for the SDC Midlands Region AGM. A final highlight was the CMAI Fair and Dinner, meeting key personnel from Indian brands and retailers embarking on a sustainability project.
There is still much to look forward to. Having handed over to Prof Chris Carr, I attended ITMA in Milan – moderating a panel session, The Textiles and Colorants Forum, for which the SDC was a member of the organising team. Forthcoming fixtures in my diary include the ZDHC Impact Day, SAC – Planet textile and of course the SDC Conference in 2024.
Read a more in-depth nine-page summary of Ullhas’s year as president, with pictures, here.