Circularity

A recurring theme at the 63rd Global Fibre Congress at Dornbirn from 11–13 September was recycling and the associated circular economy. It stressed on the urgent need for everyone in the value chain, from machine manufacturers to manufacturing and retail, to find a common denominator—the only way to provide the consumer with products which are sustainable and affordable.

Despite the promise of circular fashion, the industry lacks a comprehensive system to support it and seeking to address this gap, Global Fashion Agenda has come up with a report that outlines three essential strategies fashion companies must implement to achieve a truly circular fashion system.

Researchers in Japan have developed a method for the depolymerisation of PET that can be applied to selective chemical recycling of both textile and plastic waste mixtures, offering a promising solution for achieving a circular economy.

A study on post-consumer policies in the athleticwear sector has revealed that eco-conscious consumers are not well-served by clothing companies claiming green credentials, and environmental circular economy initiatives for activewear enterprises are limited by where firms and consumers are located, preventing them from being fully effective.

A €7 million project, BioFibreLoop, kicked off in Germany, will use laser technology to imitate natural structures in order to produce garments with water and oil-repellent, self-cleaning and antibacterial properties — basically develop recyclable outdoor and work clothing made from renewable bio-based materials.

Indonesia is looking to reverse the environmental impact of textile waste, introduce the potential of circular textiles, create green jobs, and organise training programmes.

Australia’s much-touted ‘Seamless’ programme—that recognises that the brands who place clothes on the market are responsible for the entire life of that garment, from design through to re-use and recycling—marks the beginning of a sustainable future for the country’s clothing industry beginning 1 July.

A consortium of 24 partners will work on a holistic approach towards sustainable growth in the EU textiles sector by raising customer awareness, enhancing recycling, ensuring feedstock traceability using the Digital Product Passport, and providing data and guidelines to decision-makers.

With several pieces of incoming legislation within the EU alone, the need for a cohesive and harmonised approach is essential to the successful implementation of policy within the textiles industry, concludes the New Cotton Project.

A truly circular economy ought to not only recycle goods, but also prevent the future production of waste. And by that measure, clothing markets are failing spectacularly. Second-hand reselling is failing to make a dent in the unfathomable scale of production in the international textiles market.