SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) has chosen digital innovations including SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Sustainability Control Tower, and SAP Environmental Health and Safety to help decarbonise the textile industry by using cloud sustainability to transform the value chain in Africa.
Based in Dubai, ARISE IIP designs, finances, builds and operates industrial and manufacturing ecosystems in Africa. Working in partnership with governments and investors, ARISE IIP currently works in 11 countries including Benin, Togo, and Gabon.
“The textile industry is responsible for up to 10% of global emissions,” said Vinodanand Jha, Group CIO, ARISE IIP. “From producing the raw fibres for textiles to processing, dyeing, production, and distribution, there is a great opportunity to improve sustainability across the entire textile value chain in Africa. That’s why we’re working with SAP integrate sustainability data across our operations.”
Sustainable innovation
ARISE IIP has identified 108 key performance indicators measuring carbon neutrality, circular economy, diversity and inclusion, and responsible supply chain management. The SAP solutions offer a single platform to track and report on traceability, sustainability, circularity, efficiency, and social compliance.
“At ARISE IIP, sustainability and digitalisation are not parallel tracks—they’re interconnected drivers of how we operate and grow,” said Bhavin Vyas, Chief ESG Officer at Arise IIP.
“Through the integration of SAP’s Sustainability Control Tower into our textile platform, we’ve developed a system that brings ESG data to life. It is real-time, reliable, and aligned with global frameworks such as the GRI and EU Taxonomy. This strengthens our ability to manage, measure, and continuously improve. Transparency, accountability, and innovation are the principles that turn sustainability into a true business advantage.”
Sustainability in action in Africa: Benin Textile
Benin is one of Africa’s largest cotton producers of cotton. Supported by ARISE IIP, Benin Textile produces high-quality home textiles like bed linen and towels using locally sourced cotton. These products are distributed to a range of leading European retailers.
Benefiting from ARISE IIP’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, Benin Textile is aiming to lower its emission per garment by 60% – from 4.9 KG CO2e to 1.9 KG CO2e*. It is also committed to achieving full cotton traceability to the farm level, as well as implementing zero liquid discharge technology, boosting water recycling to 90%, and recovering chemicals used in its process.
“The SAP platform is helping manage resources more efficiently and ensure greater transparency with our partners,” said Vireshwar Joshi, Benin Textile CEO. “It represents a major step forward in building a responsible and future-ready textile value chain.”
Using SAP sustainability and ERP solutions, Benin Textile is integrating sustainability into its core business processes. It can process high-quality data and streamline reporting, aligned to key compliance standards including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the EU Taxonomy, and the European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS).
The platform also helps track progress against ESG targets, improves compliance while reducing costs related to risk management and data management, and automates occupational health and safety reporting.
“Benin Textile is an incredible example of how new innovation can improve sustainable outcomes that benefits not just Africa, but the world,” continued Jha. “Only by transparently and reliably understanding the data can we make decisions that improve both financial, social, and environmental outcomes. Using SAP solutions, ARISE IIP is making Africa thrive through sustainable, green industrial ecosystems.”
Commenting on the announcement, SAP’s Head of Sustainability for Asia Pacific, Susanna Hasenoehrl, said, “Sustainability isn’t just a big challenge for organisations, it’s an incredible opportunity for growth. With the aim of sustainably transforming the textile value chain, ARISE IIP is also investing in Africa and ultimately creating jobs and revenue, and aiming to reduce its carbon footprint. That’s a win-win for its business, for its customers, and for the world.”
