Updates

Water use and wastewater discharge from global apparel supply chains are escalating environmental and social risks. A new study highlights Bangladesh’s garment sector as a critical case, showing how targeted investments could deliver measurable gains in sustainability and operational performance across production systems. It outlines investment approaches that could help suppliers implement water-saving technologies and strengthen long-term resilience across the garment industry.

India’s cotton sector faces falling acreage and rising prices as farmers switch to more profitable crops like paddy and pulses while mills boost imports. Recent government policies, including a higher minimum support price and a postponed quality order, are changing how the industry operates. Consumption remains strong, while exports and imports reflect both domestic constraints and international market conditions, which will define the challenges of the 2025–26 season.

A revised proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been submitted to ECHA by authorities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. It follows extensive consultation and now undergoes detailed scientific scrutiny. The revised background document will guide ECHA’s committees in evaluating health, environmental and socio-economic implications before they prepare opinions for the European Commission.

A new Austrian study examines textile reverse logistics and identifies operational weaknesses across collection, transport, sorting, interim storage and resale. Researchers warn these inefficiencies demand accelerated investment, coordination, and process improvements from commercial firms and socio-economic enterprises to handle rising volumes sustainably.

The UK is moving closer to building a closed-loop textile recycling system, with a major new report outlining how advanced sorting technology can transform waste into valuable resources. By mapping the steps from collection to high-quality fibre recovery, it highlights the coordinated action needed to cut landfill use and drive circular fashion growth.

Cascale and Worldly have developed a standardised methodology for apparel and footwear companies using the Higg MSI to calculate FLAG emissions. The method separates FLAG from aggregated GHG data, integrates land use change figures, and applies base and conservative assumptions. It delivers consistent baselines, enabling compliance with Science-Based Targets initiative requirements and alignment with forthcoming GHG Protocol FLAG reporting guidance.

India’s textile industry is a major emitter due to fossil fuel reliance in wet-processing. A new study evaluates electric boilers and heat pumps, modelling national, state, and cluster adoption scenarios to 2050. Findings highlight efficiency gains, emissions reductions, and cost implications, particularly when combined with renewable energy procurement, across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and the Surat cluster.

WWF-India and Solidaridad have entered a strategic alliance aimed at transforming India’s cotton and palm oil sectors through regenerative agriculture. The partnership focuses on building climate resilience, improving transparency, and fostering responsible sourcing. Joint activities will include pilot projects, policy advocacy, market reforms, and research to embed sustainability principles into agricultural production systems.

The Regenerative Fund for Nature’s 2024 Annual Report shows it has exceeded its land transformation target two years early. With 1.1 million hectares and 105,000 beneficiaries enrolled, the Fund’s projects in eight countries target cotton, wool, leather, and cashmere supply chains, embedding climate and water priorities into monitoring frameworks while introducing a flexible partnership model for greater corporate engagement.

Samsara Eco's enzymatic depolymerisation technology makes it possible to rebuild worn or contaminated textiles into virgin-equivalent materials through breaking down synthetic fibres into original building blocks. The partnership with Deakin University addresses textile additives like dyes, finishes and coatings that affect recycling effectiveness for synthetic materials processing applications.