Why are nextgen materials critical to the fashion industry? How can fashion brands address financial, technical, and operational barriers to scaling nextgen materials? A report by Fashion for Good details all of this and also outlines actionable steps to build robust material strategies, de-risk investments in nextgen technologies, and contribute to scaling innovations that are set to redefine the future of fashion.
- According to a Boston Consulting Group analysis, more than 80% of fashion companies lack sustainable sourcing targets covering all six key materials—cotton, polyester, nylon, man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs), leather, and wool.
- Nextgen materials offer the fashion industry a transformative opportunity to address pressing challenges while unlocking new pathways for sustainable and resilient growth. However, with demand for these materials projected to outstrip supply by 2030, the need for bold, coordinated industry action has never been more urgent. Without this, access to nextgen materials will remain limited and concentrated among a select few, leaving most brands struggling to adapt in a fast-evolving landscape.
- The report reveals that nextgen materials could represent 8% of the total fibre market by 2030, equivalent to approximately 13 million tonnes.
- While preferred materials such as regenerative cotton and bottle-to-textile recycled polyester contribute to improving sustainability, they only partially address the industry’s challenges, emphasising the urgency of nextgeneration (nextgen) materials to deliver deeper and broader impact.
- Nextgen materials, including textile-to-textile recycled polyester or lab-grown cotton represent a critical opportunity for the fashion industry to significantly transform its impact.
THE REPORT, Scaling Nextgen Materials in Fashion: An Executive Guide by Fashion for Good and Boston Consulting Group exhorts that the pace of change must accelerate, and brands are pivotal to this transformation.
- Individual action enables brands to drive nextgen material strategies that align with their business goals, securing a competitive edge. Simultaneously, collective action amplifies impact—pooling demand, harmonising sourcing strategies, and consolidating resources to mitigate risks and achieve economies of scale.
- Scaling nextgen materials requires a unified, strategic approach focused on three critical levers: demand, cost, and capital. By bending the cost curve, the industry can unlock broader market access to nextgen materials and create a pathway to a sustainable and competitive future.
- The time to act is now. The nextgen materials revolution is more than a challenge—it’s an unprecedented opportunity to lead. Brands that adopt nextgen materials today will not only unlock financial benefits and drive long-term value but also position themselves as leaders in an evolving landscape.
- Together, the stakeholders can weave a legacy of innovation, sustainability, and resilience to inspire generations to come.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Our 2030 materials target is designed to drive widespread adoption and reduce barriers for the company by setting targets for nextgen materials, including materials which are third-party preferred or certified. We’re also working collectively with other brands to further drive demand and cost levers to bend the adoption curve. We do this because we know that high quality and durable materials are core to our brand and the future of our industry.
— Jeffrey Hogue
Chief Sustainability Officer
Levi Strauss & Co
Strategic innovation, deep collaboration across the supply chain, and transition financing are vital to achieving our goals. Building on our centralized financing model for organic cotton, we are now exploring similar approaches to scale nextgeneration materials and establish a new competitive parity.
— Dorte Rye Olsen
Head of Sustainability
Bestseller
Our approach to nextgen materials focuses on strategic target setting, product development support, market making and investments. Through our collaboration with nextgen innovators, we have come to appreciate that scaling these solutions is an iterative process.
— Javier Losada Montero
Chief Sustainability Officer
Inditex
ABOUT THE PUBLISHERS
- Fashion for Good is the pioneer of collaborative innovation in the fashion industry. Its Innovation Platform connects brands, manufacturers, innovators, and funders to jointly transform the industry and to bring new ideas and technologies from niche to norm.
- Fashion for Good’s programmes are supported by founding partner Laudes Foundation, Co-Founder William McDonough and corporate partners, Adidas, Arvind Limited, Bestseller, Birla Cellulose, C&A, Chanel, Inditex, Kering, Levi Strauss & Co., Norrøna, ON, Otto Group, Paradise Textiles, Patagonia, PDS Limited, PVH Corp, Reformation, Shahi Exports, Target, Teijin Frontier, and Zalando.
- Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, it works closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organisations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.
