Natural capitalism?

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Agrivoltaics help cotton combat climate risks

In early October, three organisations - the World Weather Attribution group, Climate Central and Covering Climate - held a seminar that asked: “How do we know climate change fuelled that storm?” The answer was clear - it is no longer true to say…

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

ACT launches tool to evaluate climate progress

ANGERS – The Accelerating Climate Transition (ACT) initiative has launched a new tool to help fashion and luxury brands, manufacturers and retailers evaluate their alignment with low-carbon goals. Based on a new methodology, led by Paris Good…

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Greater toxicity from microplastic and PFAS combined

BIRMINGHAM – Microplastics and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, become more harmful to the environment when combined, new research suggests. The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Birmingham used Daphnia, commonly known as…

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Avantium and SCGC partner on polyester

AMSTERDAM – Renewable chemistry specialist Avantium has reinforced its partnership with chemical giant SCG Chemicals to pilot the production of PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid), a key raw material for polyester production. Avantium’s Volta…

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

US retailers named in toxic hall of shame

SEATTLE - Most large retailers in the US and Canada are failing to protect customers from toxic chemicals and harmful plastics found in their products and packaging, according to a new report. The report, by the Toxic-Free Future NGO, includes a…

Monday, 25 November 2024

Environmental assessment for consumer goods sector

BRUSSELS - Members of AIM-Progress, which is made up of members from the major fast-moving consumer goods sector, and the Consumer Goods Forum Human Rights Coalition, have partnered with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the Proforest non-profit…

Monday, 25 November 2024

Reju partners with NFT on textile recycling

PARIS - Textile recycling company Reju and French collector Nouvelles Fibres Textiles (NFT), which specialises in the recovery of end-of-life textiles, are to collaborate on building a circular ecosystem for textiles in France. NFT will supply…

Monday, 25 November 2024

Can resale be rescued? The hunt for profits

The fashion resale market faces a paradox. Whilst consumer interest in secondhand clothing continues to grow, profitability remains elusive for many platforms - with ThredUp announcing a drop in revenues and profits in its third quarter of 2024.…

Monday, 25 November 2024

Primark claims to decouple emissions from growth

DUBLIN - Discount fashion retailer Primark claims its decarbonisation programme is beginning to decouple from growth after revealing an 11.6% reduction in carbon emissions across its value chain since last year while sales rose by 6%. Primark's…

Monday, 25 November 2024

Digital tools for a circular textile economy

A new report by Acatech, the German Academy of Science and Engineering, highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies in creating a sustainable, circular economy for the textile industry. Entitled Digital Enablers of the Circular…

Monday, 25 November 2024

Turning Ambition into Impact

SPONSORED CONTENT – The LYCRA Company’s latest Sustainability Update The LYCRA Company has published its third annual Sustainability Update and its abridged Global Sustainability Scorecard for fiscal year 2023. These documents detail the company’s…

Friday, 22 November 2024

Gore-Tex expands outerwear rental service

ELKTON – Outerwear brand Gore-Tex is expanding its Outerwear On Demand snowsports apparel rental programme to new locations across the US and Canada. It is adding 15 new locations through partners, including Alterra Mountain Company, Powdr Corp and…

Friday, 22 November 2024

Lab-grown leather pioneer raises $15.8 million

PARIS - French lab-grown leather startup Faircraft has raised $15.8 million in a fundraising round to scale its patented tissue engineering technology. The round was backed by international investment funds, including Kindred Ventures (USA), Cap…

Friday, 22 November 2024

Cities 'failing to deal with textile waste'

MELBOURNE - Researchers in Australia say most leading cities around the world are failing to deal with unwanted clothing with most textile waste going to landfill or being exported overseas. The study, by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology…

Friday, 22 November 2024

Deal delivers designer dresses in 20 minutes

LONDON - Fashion rental marketplace Hurr and delivery service Deliveroo have teamed up for a “first-of-its-kind” partnership which promises to bring rental designer dresses directly to customers’ doors in just 20 minutes. Customers in central London…

Thursday, 21 November 2024

‘World-first’ grading system for microplastics

EDINBURGH – Researchers at Heriot-Watt University claim to have developed a world-first visual grading system for combatting microplastic pollution from clothing. The four-year project was led by textile experts aiming to make fashion labels and…

Thursday, 21 November 2024

Garment workers 'struggle to make ends meet'

DHAKA - A new report from the Swedwatch NGO highlights the impacts of low wages on Bangladesh's garment workers who are said to be dependant on overtime or falling into debt to make ends meet. Swedwatch, a Swedish non-profit focused on business…

Thursday, 21 November 2024

New study urges action on US textile waste

LONDON – Proposals to set up a comprehensive roadmap to transition the US polyester textile and PET packaging industries from a linear single-use model towards circular, low-waste and low-emission systems by 2040, have been outlined in a new report…

Thursday, 21 November 2024

BASF partners on biopolymer-based footwear

LUDWIGSHAFEN - Textile chemical giant BASF has partnered with Hong Kong-based footwear brand Mount to Coast on the production of its first running shoe midsole based on a biopolymer made from renewable feedstock. The CircleCell midsole, which is…

Thursday, 21 November 2024

H&M signs green energy agreement in Vietnam

HANOI - Swedish retailer H&M has become the first major global fashion brand to sign an agreement under a Vietnamese government scheme to encourage its suppliers in the country to switch to renewable energy sources, such as solar panels. H&M has…

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Most used clothing exports 'have value', report

LONDON - A new report on the quality of secondhand clothing exported to Uganda and Tanzania from the 'Global North' indicates that only 1.1 to 1.3% is waste while another 2.9 to 3.2% has value only as rags. The study by the Sustainable Manufacturing…

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Cascale to highlight new legislation challenges

AMSTERDAM - Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, will highlight challenges faced by the apparel sector in complying with new sustainability legislation at a ‘Brand & Retail Forum’ in Brussels next month. Entitled ‘Policy dialogue in…

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

1,200 Leicester garment workers 'underpaid'

LEICESTER - More than 1,200 garment workers in Leicester have been illegally underpaid over the last five years, according to newly disclosed figures. The figures, which cover the financial years from 2019-20 to 2023-24 and were revealed by HM…

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Fair Wear and EOG partner on workers rights initiative

AMSTERDAM - Multi-stakeholder initiative, the Fair Wear Foundation has announced a strategic partnership with the European Outdoor Group (EOG) aimed at enhancing worker rights in the outdoor apparel sector. Under the terms of the partnership, the…

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

ILO step-ups action against Myanmar government

GENEVA - The International Labor Organization (ILO) is to begin action against the Myanmar government amid concerns that has failed to adhere to any of its previous recommendations aimed at reducing the risks faced by the country’s workers,…

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Final approval for EU forced labour law

BRUSSELS - The European Union's Forced Labour Regulation (FLR), which bans products made anywhere in the world with forced labour from the single market, has cleared its final legislative hurdle. Following approval by the European Council yesterday,…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

NGO urges Europe to save Deforestation Law

BRUSSELS - The Solidaridad sustainable supply chain initiative is urging the European Council to save the proposed European Union Deforestation Law (EUDL) after the European Parliament voted to water down the legislation. EUDR had already been…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Fashion for Good partners on biosynthetics programme

AMSTERDAM – The Fashion for Good initiative and its retail partners have come together to launch the ‘Feedstock Assessment for Biosynthetic Innovation’, a new programme aimed at accelerating the industry’s shift towards alternatives to fossil…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

UKFT secures CCL rebate scheme extension

LONDON – The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) has announced a six-year extension to the Climate Change Levy (CCL) rebate scheme for the textile industry. The extended scheme, which will run from 1 January 2026 to March 2033, has been slightly…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Spinnova announces delay in new fibre factory

JYVÄSKYLÄ - Finnish textile fibre innovator Spinnova has announced a delay in the new production plant it is developing in partnership with Brazilian cellulosic pulp giant Suzano. The two companies signed a letter of intent (LOI) to build the…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Wholesale second-hand start-up secures funding

LONDON – UK secondhand wholesale start-up Fleek has secured $20.4 million in a new funding round. The online platform raised $5.6 million from a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and $14.8 million from a Series A round led by HV Capital,…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

GOTS launches due diligence handbook for auditors

STUTTGART - Global Standard, the non-profit that manages the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), in partnership with The Hague-based UpRights Foundation, has launched the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors. The publication of the handbook…

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Garment workers' living wage gap highlighted

SOUTH ASIA - A new report from the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) highlights the gap between the wages paid to garment workers and how much it costs to meet their basic living needs. AFWA's 'Path to a Living Wage' report calls for a living wage in…

Monday, 18 November 2024

Toray inks bio-based nylon development deal

TOKYO - Japanese textile manufacturer Toray Industries has struck a deal with Thai petrochemicals manufacturer PTT Global Chemical (GC) to explore mass production technology for adipic acid, a key ingredient in the production of nylon 6,6, from…

Monday, 18 November 2024

New call to save European used textile sector

BRUSSELS – Three more organisations have added their voices to warnings that the European used textile industry is in danger of collapse unless action is taken to save it. The RREUSE network of social enterprises involved in reuse, repair and…

Monday, 18 November 2024

Lift-off for supplier data sharing programme

LONDON - More than 400 companies are now preparing to share their supply chain data and accelerate their transparency across global textile and garment supply chains with Open Supply Hub (OS Hub), following a series of partnerships with…

Monday, 18 November 2024

Cooling fabric 'to help with climate change'

ZHENGZHOU / ADELAIDE - A team of international researchers have developed a cooling fabric which they hope will help wearers cope better with rising temperatures and reduce energy use through air conditioning. Researchers from China's Zhengzhou…

Monday, 18 November 2024

EU cracks down on fast fashion giant Temu

BRUSSELS - The European Commission (EC) and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network have issued a warning to Shein rival Temu, citing several breaches of EU consumer law, following calls for stricter regulations on online marketplaces last…

Monday, 18 November 2024

OEKO-TEX® drives transformation with certification systems

SPONSORED CONTENT – As sustainability challenges increase globally, textile and leather companies are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact and produce responsibly. The international OEKO-TEX® association supports the industry with…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Amazon price capping service to take on Shein

SEATTLE - Online retail giant Amazon has introduced a new feature aimed at taking on low-cost retailers such as Shein and Temu. Known as Amazon Haul, the service will provide customers in the US with access to range of products, all capped at $20 or…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Cities take lead on fast fashion - report

BRUSSELS – European cities are acting to address the impacts of fast fashion at local level in the absence of strong guidance from governments, according to a new report. Entitled 'Cities and consumption: Local solutions to curb textile waste and…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Study identifies silk for waterways clean-up

ITHACA - A research team at Cornell University in the US claims to have developed a sustainable way to remove dye and oil from waterways using discarded silk yarn. The studies, which have involved work on silk at the fabric, yarn, and fibre stages,…

Friday, 15 November 2024

New forest-based carbon credits approved

LONDON - New methodologies for issuing forest-based carbon credits, which were withdrawn following concerns about potential loopholes, have been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). ICVCM, which aims to ensure…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Textile sector suppliers secure AI development funding

LJUBLJANA – Smartex and Lithos Carbon, both of which work with the fashion and textile industry to improve environmental stewardship, have been named as recipients of the ‘Compute for Climate Fellowship’, the global programme that offers funding to…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Former H&M CEO to lead recycler Circulose

STOCKHOLM - Former H&M CEO Helena Helmersson has been appointed the new chairman of textile recycler Circulose, formerly Renewcell, while McKinsey & Co partner Jonatan Janmark has been named the new CEO. Swedish private equity firm Altor took over…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Puma sets new climate targets

HERZOGENAURACH – Sportswear giant Puma has unveiled its new ‘Vision 2030’ sustainability goals, which include a new raft of greenhouse gas reduction targets. Puma’s most recent sustainability report, published earlier this year, showed that Puma…

Friday, 15 November 2024

Mango commits to mulesed-free Merino campaign

BARCELONA - Spanish fashion giant Mango has committed to only source certified wool free from live lamb cutting, also known as mulesing, by 2030. The pledge follows the signing of the ‘brand letter of intent’ from animal welfare organisation, Four…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Complaints lodged against brands over Myanmar

YANGON - The IndustriALL globaI union has filed complaints against three leading brands – Next, New Yorker and LPP – over their continued sourcing from Myanmar despite "overwhelming evidence of continuous violations of workers’ rights" since the…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

New ESG guide for luxury brands launched

CHICAGO – International law firm Baker McKenzie and sustainability consultants Positive Luxury have published an updated guide for luxury brands on meeting the requirements of new and upcoming environmental and human rights legislation. It…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Algae project targets textile sector clean-up

OSLO - A consortium made up of academic researchers, industry and authorities from across Northern Europe, has come together to jointly develop algae-based products that could have potential applications in the textile sector while also helping…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

YESS members implement cotton due diligence

BERKELEY - The Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN) non-profit has confirmed that the first cohort of its YESS (Yarn Ethically and Sustainably Sourced) members have begun to implement due diligence in their supply chains. Targeting the elimination of…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Cascale guide to California's climate laws

AMSTERDAM - Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and its technology partner Worldly, have published a new guide to help fashion companies comply with California's new climate laws. The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Testex launches microplastics label, joins TMC

ZURICH - Swiss textile testing and certification institute Testex has launched a new microplastics label aimed at helping retailers, brands and manufacturers reduce microplastic emissions from textiles. Confirming it has also joined the Microfibre…

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Puma and Decathlon honoured by ‘good works’ index

LONDON – Sportswear brand Puma and retail giant Decathlon are amongst just 11 global companies that have been included in the Laureus ‘Sport for Good’ index. Launched in 2021, the Laureus Sport for Good Index acknowledges brands that are making…

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

NGOs launch guide to improving EU CSDDD

BRUSSELS - The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), which works for better pay and conditions for the world's garment workers, has linked up with eight other NGOs to publish a new guide to the European Union's (EU) Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence…

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

YKK marks sustainability milestones

TOKYO – Apparel fastening solutions manufacturer, YKK Corporation has published its latest sustainability report in which it outlines its most recent progress toward climate neutrality and environmental stewardship. The ‘This is YKK 2024’ report…

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Report outlines sourcing trends and challenges

HONG KONG – Artificial intelligence, automation and sustainability are all at the top of the list of major trends and issues impacting sourcing professionals at many of the world's leading fashion retailers and brands, a new report suggests.…

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Active Apparel Group earns B Corp status

CALIFORNIA - Active Apparel Group (AAG) has been awarded B Corp status in recognition of its ongoing efforts in social and environmental sustainability, transparency, and ethical business practices. To receive certification, companies are required…

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Euratex signs MOU with Moroccan trade body

CASABLANCA - The Euratex textile industry trade body has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan Association of Textile and Clothing Industries (AMITH) which includes aligning on sustainability and circularity. The MoU, signed…

Monday, 11 November 2024

Earthshot textile finalist CEO steps down

PEORIA – Next generation materials manufacturer, Natural Fiber Welding has reportedly furloughed a number of its workers amid delays to customer contracting and a subsequent shortfall in funding. The start-up, which last year was nominated as a…

Monday, 11 November 2024

Rehubs to partner on textiles recycling Expo

BRUSSELS – ReHubs, the Euratex-founded project aimed at upscaling textile waste recycling, has signed up as a strategic partner with AMI, organiser of next year’s Textiles Recycling Expo. The event, which will provide a platform for industry leaders…

Monday, 11 November 2024

Leading MSIs 'failing to engage suppliers'

GLOBAL - Cascale, Textile Exchange, the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) are failing to engage fashion suppliers in their efforts to reduce the industry's impacts, according to a new report.…

Monday, 11 November 2024

New shared risk model for fashion’s future

UTRECHT - The fashion system needs a new approach that emphasises collaboration between buyers and suppliers, which a new report terms “shared risk”. This involves buyers and suppliers sharing production risks and rewards by using data science for…

Monday, 11 November 2024

Turning Ambition into Impact

SPONSORED CONTENT – The LYCRA Company’s latest Sustainability Update The LYCRA Company has published its third annual Sustainability Update and its abridged Global Sustainability Scorecard for fiscal year 2023. These documents detail the company’s…

Friday, 08 November 2024

Cascale launches updated Higg FEM tool

AMSTERDAM - Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has launched the latest version of its Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM) together with its technology partner Worldly. The updated Higg FEM tool aims to provide more…

Friday, 08 November 2024

WRC accuses Shein over garment factory closure

GUATEMALA CITY - Worker rights campaigners have criticised Chinese-owned ultra fast fashion giant Shein for failing to protect workers at a former garment factory in Guatemala which supplied a brand it part owns. The US-based Worker Rights…

Friday, 08 November 2024

Global roll-out for Teijin bio-based PLA

TOKYO – Japanese fibre manufacturer Teijin Frontier has confirmed the global roll-out of its Biofront polylactic acid (PLA) resin which, with applications in the textiles and nonwovens sectors, is said to biodegrade at a faster rate compared to…

Friday, 08 November 2024

Re&Up moves towards Spanish recycling plant

MADRID - Textile recycler Re&Up has set up a subsidiary in Spain as it looks to expand its operations to Europe as part of its ambitious bid to scale its global capacity to more than a million tonnes annually. Re&Up, which is based in the…

Friday, 08 November 2024

Carbon Trust accreditation for BASF intermediates

LUDWIGSHAFEN - BASF has had several of its textile sector, chemical intermediates verified by climate change NGO and product carbon footprint verifier, the Carbon Trust. The Carbon Trust, which advises businesses and governments on sustainable…

Friday, 08 November 2024

Trump will 'not be a roadblock on circularity'

WASHINGTON DC - The American Circular Textiles (ACT) says a second Trump presidency should not dismay those working to accelerate the transition to circularity and that it can work with his administration. "A Trump presidency will reshape America.…

Thursday, 07 November 2024

Wider losses at Lenzing despite sales hike

LENZING - Cellulosic fibre specialist Lenzing has posted a wider loss for the first three quarters of 2024, with lower fibre prices and higher raw material costs off-setting an increase in sales volumes. Reporting a net loss of €111.1 million, down…

Thursday, 07 November 2024

Tell-Tex and Re-Matters partner on recycling facility

SAFENWIL - Tell-Tex, one of Switzerland's largest used clothing collectors, is partnering with recycling specialist Re-Matters to construct a new processing facility. The plant, which is scheduled to be online by 2026, is expected to have the…

Thursday, 07 November 2024

Governments urged to act on plastic pollution

BUSAN - The heads of Decathlon, IKEA and textile recycling specialists Tomra and Terracycle, are among a group of 22 prominent CEOs whose companies have signed an open letter to heads of state ahead of the final round of negotiations in Busan,…

Thursday, 07 November 2024

New tool aims to map textile waste hotspots

AMSTERDAM - The Fashion for Good initiative has launched a free online tool mapping global textile waste hotspots which aims to provide regional data on waste volume, composition and type available worldwide. The 'World of Waste' tool was created…

Thursday, 07 November 2024

New GFA Monitor report update launched

SHANGHAI – The Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has unveiled the latest edition of its GFA Monitor report, which aims to guide industry leaders towards a net positive fashion sector, at its Global Fashion Summit in China. The GFA Monitor 2024 is produced…

Wednesday, 06 November 2024

MPs call on UK to follow US on forced labour

LONDON - Labour MPs have urged the UK government to introduce legislation equivalent to the US Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) to prevent goods made with forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China from entering the country. Blair…

Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Funding gap for India decarbonisation plans

AMSTERDAM - India’s textile and apparel industry requires around $6.5 billion in fresh funding if it is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, according to a new report from the Apparel Impact Institute. The report, ‘Landscape and…

Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Funding boost for PFAS-free textile treatment

NEW MEXICO – Textile finishing specialist Green Theme Technologies (GTT) has secured a $6 million tranche of fresh funding, which it’ll use to scale-up its waterless, textile treatment technology. Branded as Empel, the company’s line of fabric…

Tuesday, 05 November 2024

ThredUp announces reduced revenues and profits

OAKLAND - ThredUp, one of the fashion industry’s largest online resale platforms, has announced a drop in revenues, profits, user numbers and orders in its third quarter results for 2024. ThredUp's third quarter revenue of $73 million represented an…

Tuesday, 05 November 2024

AbTF joins initiative to challenge PEF rules

HAMBURG – The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), which oversees Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and the Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), has joined the Make the Label Count initiative to challenge the European Union's (EU) proposed Product Environmental…

Tuesday, 05 November 2024

Report highlights bio-based fibres environmental risk

PLYMOUTH - Bio-based fibres such as viscose could pose a greater threat to the environment than conventional plastics such as polyester, new research suggests. The research from a team at the University of Plymouth in the UK also warns that…

Tuesday, 05 November 2024

Australian wool's 'broken promise' on mulesing

LONDON - Animal welfare campaigners have accused the Australian wool industry of breaking a promise to end mulesing and has urged politicians to step in to ban the controversial process by the end of the decade. The report - jointly produced by Four…

Monday, 04 November 2024

Workwear specialist opts for Resortecs recycling

BRUSSELS - Technical textile manufacturer Sioen has teamed up with Belgian textile waste specialist Resortecs to develop workwear that is specially designed for disassembly and recycling at the end of its lifecycle. Under the agreement, Sioen will…

Monday, 04 November 2024

ZDHC launches dissolved pulp guidelines

AMSTERDAM - The ZDHC Foundation has published guidelines to address the use and discharge of chemicals in wood-based dissolved pulp manufacturing. The ZDHC Dissolved Pulp Guidelines V1.0 addresses expectations for chemical recovery and discharged…

Monday, 04 November 2024

Coalition urges EU to address textile impacts

BRUSSELS - The Textiles Coalition group of environmental and worker rights campaigners have laid out the policy priorities they hope to see from the European Union (EU) to reduce the industry's impacts on sustainability. The coalition says that…

Monday, 04 November 2024

Paradise and Kintra partner on bio-based polyester

SINGAPORE - Paradise Textiles, the material science hub of the Alpine Group, has partnered with Kintra Fibers to create the first garment made using the latter’s bio-based polyester. The launch follows a successful pilot project in 2023, during…

Monday, 04 November 2024

Esquel Group restricted from exporting to US

WASHINGTON DC - The Hong Kong-based Esquel Group, one of the world's biggest textile and apparel manufacturers, has been restricted from exporting to the US under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The US Department of Homeland Security…

Monday, 04 November 2024

Avery Dennison launches traceability tool

MENTOR - Materials science and digital identification specialist Avery Dennison has launched a new supply chain platform aimed at helping brands and manufacturers drive transparency in their day to day operations. Branded as Optica the new system…

Monday, 04 November 2024

New tool calculates ‘true cost’ of fashion

ANTWERP – Belgian researchers funded by the European Union have developed a new online tool designed to calculate the environmental and social costs associated with garments throughout their lifecycle. SCIRT partners (System Circularity & Innovative…

Friday, 01 November 2024

IndustriALL voices Myanmar garment worker fears

YANGON - The IndustriALL global trade union has warned of the continuing risks facing garment workers in Myanmar. Citing a tracker developed by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, which monitors abuse in Myanmar’s garment industry,…

Friday, 01 November 2024

New leather dataset shows significant progress

AMSTERDAM / NORTHAMPTON – Trade bodies Leather Working Group (LWG) and Leather Naturally have announced that the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (Higg MSI) has adopted a joint data submission from their respective Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)…

Friday, 01 November 2024

UK retailers urged to back Leicester manufacturing

LEICESTER – A group of trade unions, industry campaigners and community groups have called on UK fashion retailers and brands to support garment production in Leicester, one of the UK’s key manufacturing hubs. Writing an open letter, organisations…

Friday, 01 November 2024

Textile Exchange unveils climate award winners

PASADENA - Textile Exchange has announced the winners of its 2024 Climate and Nature Impact Awards at the industry body's annual conference in Pasadena. The Ryan Young Climate Leader award, in memory of Textile Exchange’s late COO who spearheaded…

Friday, 01 November 2024

New bid to supply brands with next gen materials

PASADENA - US-based textile-to-textile recycling specialist Circ, Dutch sustainability Fashion for Good and environmental nonprofit Canopy have teamed up for a new project to provide smaller brands with next gen materials at competitive prices.…

Friday, 01 November 2024

Upcycling minds think alike

SPONSORED CONTENT – It was 10th June last year, at ITMA 2023 , when ERCA TCS, Patagonia® and YKK announced their team up and push toward circularity with the chem-tech innovation REVECOL®. Dialogue between the partners has been intense - and we will…

Thursday, 31 October 2024

Cascale to give textile suppliers more say

AMSTERDAM – Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has introduced a new member engagement and governance model which it says will elevate supplier and manufacturer input into its decision-making.It says the new model aims to promote…

Thursday, 31 October 2024

EU urged to step up recycling focus

BRUSSELS – The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has urged the European Union (EU) to step up its focus on the recycling and recovery of raw materials, which could be crucial to protect the crisis-hit textile recycling industry. It says…

Thursday, 31 October 2024

US partners aim to divert textiles from landfill

PARIS - Textile recycling company Reju, which uses technology developed by IBM to recycle post-consumer textiles into virgin quality polyester, is teaming up with non-profit retailer Goodwill to help advance textile recycling in North America. The…

Thursday, 31 October 2024

Ecosystex flags benefits of research on textile circularity

MILAN – European Union (EU) funded initiatives continue to advance the development of sustainable circular textile supply chains in Europe, but face challenges related to performance, end-of-life processing, pricing, market differentiation, and…

Thursday, 31 October 2024

CottonConnect partners on India cotton promotion

MUMBAI - The CottonConnect social enterprise has partnered with the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) on a formal partnership to promote ‘Kasturi Cotton’, India’s branded cotton. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) includes a…