Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Assam Silk Industry: A Pathway to Environmental Preservation and Rural Empowerment

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_67How to use a DOI?

Keywords

sustainable; silk; entrepreneurship; innovation; Assam; Muga; Eri; rural empowerment; environmental preservation

Abstract

Sustainable entrepreneurship marks a paradigm shift in how business and environmental priorities intersect where profitability aligns with ecological balance and social responsibility. In this framework, innovation means more than new technology; it represents the integration of eco-friendly methods, green technologies, and inclusive business models that drive rural development. Globally, silk has emerged as a sustainable alternative in the textile sector, countering the environmental challenges posed by mass-produced synthetic fabrics. Assam, with its celebrated Muga and Eri silks, exemplifies this balance between tradition and sustainability. These industries combine biodiversity conservation, cultural craftsmanship, and modern eco-innovations such as natural dyes, solar-powered machinery, and transparent digital supply chains. This paper examines how sustainable entrepreneurship and technological innovation are reshaping the Muga and Eri silk sectors, focusing on Assam’s Kamrup and Goalpara districts. It explores how environmentally responsible approaches can create rural employment, promote gender equality, and significantly reduce carbon emissions. The study also identifies challenges such as deforestation, limited certification systems, and inadequate infrastructure, proposing integrated solutions. By emphasizing eco-innovation, skill enhancement, and collaboration with research institutions, Assam can position itself as a global leader in sustainable silk production advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 5, 9, 12, 13, and 15.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Manisha Bhattacharya
AU  - Dhrishit Goswami
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/31
TI  - Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Assam Silk Industry: A Pathway to Environmental Preservation and Rural Empowerment
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart Systems and Social Management (ICSSSM-2 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 1105
EP  - 1116
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_67
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_67
ID  - Bhattacharya2025
ER  -