Phil Patterson casts his eye over claims of biodegradability in textiles and asks if it would be better to adopt a more circular approach where textiles – and the chemicals used to make them – are more durable and infinitely recyclable.
- Written by Phil Paterson
Biodegradability: just a load of rubbish? 
Latest News
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Tuesday, 24 December 2024Report raises leather disinformation concerns
NEW YORK – The Collective Fashion Justice NGO has released a report criticising the leather industry for what it describes as social-media-led disinformation campaigns. It also accuses the leather sector of using greenwashing tactics and lobbying… -
Tuesday, 24 December 2024Festive greetings – our news review of 2024
YORK – Season’s greetings to all our readers. It’s that time of the year again when we look back on some of the more memorable stories from over the last 12 months in our review of the year. Back in January, one of our more popular stories was an… -
Tuesday, 24 December 2024ECHA raises environmental concerns over BFRs
BRUSSELS - An investigation by the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) has raised environmental concerns about the use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) to make products, including textiles, less flammable. ECHA found that non-polymeric aromatic… -
Monday, 23 December 2024Ecotextile Talks: a year in podcasts
YORK – The last 12 months have been a memorable time for the Ecotextile Talks team with our podcast hosts joined by a series of industry experts and key decision makers, all discussing the major issues around environmental stewardship in the fashion… -
Monday, 23 December 2024Automation replaces 31% of garment workers
DHAKA - Automation has already replaced 31% of garment workers in Bangladesh, according to a new study by Solidaridad Network Asia, the Bangladesh Labour Foundation and the country's BRAC University. Unskilled 'helpers' were the most likely to have… -
Monday, 23 December 2024RISE programme reaches 400,000 workers
PARIS - The RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality) programme claims to have reached 400,000 workers this year in its work to improve gender equality in the garment, footwear and textile industries. RISE, a joint programme by Gap's PACE… -
Monday, 23 December 2024Used clothing traders challenge 'misinformation'
NAIROBI - The Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) trade body is calling on global stakeholders to combat what it calls "misinformation" about the secondhand clothing industry in Africa. MCAK says that the industry employs and clothes… -
Friday, 20 December 2024AbTF optimistic for new standard in India
HAMBURG - The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has revealed that it expects that the first Indian cotton certified to its new Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) will soon be on the market. The nonprofit, which also runs the Cotton Made in Africa… -
Friday, 20 December 2024Shein joins US import protection scheme
WASHINGTON – Fast fashion giant Shein has joined the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Section 321 Data Pilot programme, which enlists companies to voluntarily submit additional import entry information about packages and shipments entering the… -
Friday, 20 December 2024Myanmar garment workers 'under siege' - report
YANGON - Myanmar's garment workers are under siege from the combined impacts of economic hardship and forced military conscription, according to a report from the Shwetaungthagathu Reform Initiative Centre (SRIc). The hybrid think tank and… -
Friday, 20 December 2024Walmart to miss interim climate targets
ARKANSAS - US retail giant Wal-Mart has confirmed it is likely to miss its previously announced 2025 and 2030 interim climate targets. Writing in its latest ESG update, Walmart said that while it was continuing to work towards its “aspirational… -
Thursday, 19 December 2024Tapestry report claims GHG emissions progress
NEW YORK – Luxury fashion company Tapestry, which owns brands such as Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, claims to have reduced its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 84% this year against its 2021 baseline. Scope 3 emissions -… -
Thursday, 19 December 2024Delay for Carbios biorecycling plant
CLERMONT-FERRAND - Biotech firm Carbios has postponed the construction of its PET biorecycling plant in Longlaville, France, for between six and nine months. The postponement has been attributed to “delayed funding pending completion of additional… -
Thursday, 19 December 2024Shein's due diligence 'red flag to investors'
LONDON - Ultra fast fashion retailer Shein's work to tackle forced labour in its global supply chains falls "significantly short" of sector leaders - a red flag for investors ahead of the company's anticipated public listing in London, according to… -
Thursday, 19 December 2024
Podcast: European textile recycling on brink of collapse
YORK – Our podcast host Philip Berman sits down with Marie-Jeanne Gaertner, project and policy officer at RREUSE (Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises) to find out why the textile reuse and recycling sector in the European Union is… -
Wednesday, 18 December 2024ZDHC Foundation welcomes new signatories
AMSTERDAM – The ZDHC Foundation has welcomed two new signatories to its programme which aims to replace hazardous chemicals with safer ones in fashion and textiles production. US sportswear brand Under Armour, which joined ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024New test for microfibre release during washing
BALTIMORE / BÖNNIGHEIM - Sportswear brand Under Armour, textile testing company Hohenstein and measuring device provider PPT Group have teamed up to publish a standardised test method to determine microfibre release from textiles under simulated… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024CottonConnect consults on REEL standard
PASADENA - The CottonConnect social enterprise has opened a consultation on its plans to transition its flagship Reel programme into a certified standard. Announced at the recent Textile Exchange annual conference in Pasadena, California, the move… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024Psychology 'can reduce online returns' - study
MUNICH - Targeted psychological interventions on the environmental impact of fashion returns can change shoppers' behaviours, according to the largest study of its kind. The study of more than 220,000 customers and more than 100,000 orders in eight… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024OECD backs extended producer responsibility
PARIS - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a research paper calling for the faster adoption of extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies as a means to embedding circular economy principles in the… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024AATCC partners with India textile association
DURHAM – The AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists) has partnered with The Textile Association India (TAI) to improve alignment for manufacturers working towards textile standards while also providing joint educational and… -
Tuesday, 17 December 2024US agencies 'must collaborate on textile waste'
WASHINGTON DC - US government agencies need to work together to tackle the environmental impacts from the growing problem of textile waste, according to a new report from a watchdog. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO), US Congress's… -
Monday, 16 December 2024CSR event to be held on Performance Days eve
MUNICH - A one day event focused on corporate social responsibility (CSR) is to be held before the Performance Days trade fair in Munich next year. Called 'Day 0', the event on 4th March is aimed predominantly at design and development teams who… -
Monday, 16 December 2024Fashion industry 'needs radical overhaul'
ZURICH - The fashion industry is facing a reckoning. A new report from Swiss watchdog Public Eye calls for a radical overhaul of the fashion system to create a just and sustainable industry within planetary boundaries. One-Earth Fashion outlines 33… -
Monday, 16 December 2024Coalition outlines purchasing practice findings
GLOBAL - An alliance of multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) set up to explore responsible purchasing practices to reduce the negative impacts of the fashion industry on garment workers and suppliers, has published it initial findings. The… -
Monday, 16 December 2024Fashion Leap for Climate signs up new members
LONDON / BERLIN / HAMBURG - Retailers ASOS, Boozt and the Selfridges Group have joined the Fashion Leap for Climate initiative, while Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has become a strategic partner. Fashion Leap for Climate was… -
Friday, 13 December 2024Loop Industries to build first European plant
MONTREAL – Loop Industries, which offers technology that can chemically recycle low-grade polyester, has received a €10 million investment boost with the sale of its first technology licence in Europe. The deal with Reed Societe Generale will also… -
Friday, 13 December 2024New bid to reduce impacts in eight countries
SIAM REAP - A new $45 million multi-agency initiative to reduce the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, and also construction, in eight countries has been launched in Cambodia. The six-year 'Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Supply… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Forced labour risks 'remain in Uzbek cotton'
TASHKENT - Forced labour risks and other human rights concerns in Uzbekistan’s cotton sector remain high despite the abolition of state-imposed forced labour, according to a new report by human rights campaigners. The study, from the Uzbek Forum for… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Cascale creates US policy ‘advisory’ group
AMSTERDAM - Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has formed a US policy member expert team (MET), an advisory group that will help shape the organisation’s approach to addressing key challenges and opportunities for the textiles,… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Brands criticised on costing practices
NEWARK - While some global brands and retailers are improving their costing practices, others continue to put financial pressures on suppliers - and could actually be making things worse, according to new research by the Better Buying Institute.… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024ZDHC publishes recycled polyester guidelines
AMSTERDAM - The ZDHC Foundation has published two new guidelines to address sustainable chemical management requirements for recycled polyester. The aim of the Recycled Polyester Guidelines V1.0 and the Industry Standard Implementation Approach V1.0… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Inditex posts Q3 results, invests in UK start-up
ARTEIXO – Zara owner Inditex has announced positive financial results for its third quarter, and the company is now investing in UK biotech start-up Epoch Biodesign which uses enzymes to break down textile waste at room temperature. Inditex’s sales… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024ITMA Asia + CITME expands exhibition space
SINGAPORE – The organisers of next year’s ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition have confirmed the addition of a further 10,000 square metres of hall space, following an unexpected surge in applications. Scheduled to be held at the Singapore Expo from 28th… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024REI accused of supply chain worker risks
SEATTLE - Outdoor retail giant REI has been accused of links to “gross violations of labour and human rights” in its global supply chain, in a new report from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Labor Center and Students for International Labor… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Stand.earth outlines fashion and fracking connection
SEATTLE - The Stand.earth Research Group (SRG) says it has unearthed evidence that shows that more than 100 high profile fashion giants are using raw materials that have a link to fracked oil and gas in the Permian Basin in Texas. The SRG… -
Thursday, 12 December 2024Global brands linked to worker abuse claims
LONDON - Global fashion giants, including H&M, Ralph Lauren, ASOS, Mango, Michael Kors, Coach and Gucci, have been linked to labour rights violations in their supply chains by new research released today. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre… -
Wednesday, 11 December 2024Female participation dropping in Bangladesh garment sector
DHAKA - Increasing levels of automation in Bangladesh’s garment industry have led to 3% drop of female workers over the last 10 years, according to a new report. The report, ‘Technology Upgradation of the RMG Industries in Bangladesh’, says that… -
Wednesday, 11 December 2024Plans to merge EU laws worry campaigners
BRUSSELS - Campaigners say they are "deeply worried" that European Commission plans to merge and simplify new rules on corporate sustainability will weaken protection of workers, human rights and the environment. The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC),… -
Tuesday, 10 December 20249% pay rise for Bangladesh garment workers
DHAKA - Garment workers in Bangladesh are to receive a 9% pay rise in a bid to calm the unrest which has disrupted the industry since student-led protests brought down Sheikh Hasina's government in August. The government has decided to add a 4%… -
Tuesday, 10 December 2024Textile recycling plant uses hydrogen power
LONDON – A commercial-scale, post-consumer polyester recycling plant, billed as the first of its kind, is using zero-emission hydrogen power technology. Provided by sustainable energy solutions company GeoPura, the hydrogen will support the initial… -
Tuesday, 10 December 2024Puma signs multi-year deal for Spinnova fibre
HERZOGENAURACH / JYVÄSKYLÄ – Sportswear giant Puma has signed a multi-year letter of intent (LOI) to source sustainable wood-based fibre from a new production plant being developed by Finnish textile innovator Spinnova and Brazilian cellulosic pulp… -
Tuesday, 10 December 2024Samsara adds nylon 6 enzyme recycling capability
MITCHELL - Australian recycling company Samsara Eco, which works in partnership with athleticwear brand Lululemon, has developed enzymes capable of recycling nylon 6. Building on its existing capabilities to infinitely recycle nylon 6,6 and… -
Monday, 09 December 2024Shein appoints experts to ESG advisory body
SINGAPORE - Ultra fast fashion giant Shein has appointed former CottonConnect chairman Ram Gidoomal as chairman of its new External ESG Advisory Board (EEAB). The Chinese-owned company has also established 'Regional Strategy and Corporate… -
Monday, 09 December 2024HKRITA competition backs ‘student innovation’
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has launched its inaugural Open Lab Global Challenge, an international competition to encourage 'young innovators' to develop sustainable solutions for the fashion and… -
Monday, 09 December 2024Organic cotton project extended in Benin
HAMBURG - A project aimed at supporting smallholder cotton farmers in transitioning to organic cultivation to avoid the use of synthetic pesticides in Benin has been extended. Launched three years ago, the €1 million ($1.06m) 'Growing Benin's… -
Monday, 09 December 2024Heat stress days surge across key garment hubs
NEW YORK - Five major production hubs from across the global apparel supply chain have experienced a 42% increase in high heat days over the last two decades, new research suggests. The analysis by the Global Labor Institute, part of Cornell… -
Monday, 09 December 2024FDP bid to scrap German Supply Chain Act
BERLIN – The Free Democratic Party (FDP) has launched a bid to scrap Germany’s Supply Chain Act, arguing it has created a “bureaucratic jungle instead of transparent supply chains”. The bill, introduced to the German Parliament last week, calls for… -
Monday, 09 December 2024
Turkey 'to play key role in regenerative cotton'
AYDIN - Turkey could play a significant role in transitioning cotton growing to regenerative agriculture, according to a new report from the CottonConnect social enterprise. CottonConnect has been working on adapting its REEL Regenerative Cotton… -
Friday, 06 December 2024Eurofins launches clean air check for VOC testing
NORTHAMPTON - Chemical management testing company Eurofins has launched a new clean air check service that is designed to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and additional prohibited compounds in textile manufacturers’ emissions. The CleanAir… -
Friday, 06 December 2024UK chemical firm expands with Avocet acquisition
MANCHESTER - Speciality chemical manufacturer John Hogg Technical Solutions has acquired Avocet, the UK manufacturer of textile flame retardants, dyes and high-performance auxiliaries. The move is described as a significant milestone in John Hogg’s… -
Friday, 06 December 2024Unions urge Accord to expand to Morocco
RABAT - Trade unions are urging the Moroccan government to enter into talks with the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry in the hope it will set up a worker safety programme in the country. The IndustriALL… -
Friday, 06 December 2024Cirql launches compostable foam for footwear
HO CHI MINH CITY – Material science firm Cirql has developed a new compostable and biodegradable foam component for the footwear sector. Cirql Zero is made using a proprietary polymer compound and is manufactured using supercritical foaming (SCF)… -
Friday, 06 December 2024European fashion sector at 'critical juncture'
BRUSSELS - The European fashion industry is at a "critical juncture" in which it faces increasing demands for sustainability and an avalanche of new legislation aimed at reducing its impacts, according to a new report. The European Fashion… -
Thursday, 05 December 2024Milliken awarded EcoVadis ‘gold’ rating
SPARTANBURG – Technical apparel manufacturer Milliken & Company has been awarded a gold rating for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance from global standard EcoVadis for the third consecutive year. The owner of the Polartec outdoor… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Land at risk from fashion industry growth, report
RIYADH - The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has published a new report aimed at raising awareness of the impact of the fashion and textile industry on land and how fibre choices have a major impact on the environment. The… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Future Fibres Network to explore wetsuit recycling
LONDON - The Future Fibres Network+ (FFN+), a collaborative effort between UK universities and fashion industry trade bodies, is exploring the potential for the UK’s first wetsuit recycling facility. The neoprene recycling initiative is the latest… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024ThredUp exits Europe to focus on US market
OAKLAND - Fashion resale specialist ThredUp has confirmed that it has sold its European business, Remix, to focus on the US market. ThredUp has entered into a binding agreement for a management buyout of the subsidiary led by the Remix's general… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Better Cotton adds voice to PEF revision campaign
LONDON - Better Cotton is adding its voice to calls on the EU to revise its Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) scheme which it warns favours synthetic over natural fibres. The organisation has joined the Make the Label Count (MTLC) coalition… -
Wednesday, 04 December 2024Traditional compost methods 'boost soil health'
WASHINGTON DC - Traditional composting practices offer an inexpensive way to promote healthy soil and more productive cotton farming, according to research by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). An ICAC research project, carried out… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Protesting workers 'attack garment factory boss'
GAZIPUR - Business leaders in Bangladesh have condemned the brutal beating of the deputy managing director of a garment factory as he reportedly tried to talk to protesting workers. Rafee Mahmud, whose family owns Mahmud Jeans Ltd, of Gazipur, was… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024EU clothing material footprint lower than expected
BRUSSELS - A European Environment Agency analysis of the material footprint of goods and services consumed by European citizens found that clothing and footwear made up just 1% of the overall total. The European Environment Agency (EAA) released an… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Increased commitment to forest protection
VANCOUVER - Environmental non-profit Canopy has released its annual Hot Button report, revealing that 71% of rated man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF) producers have achieved green shirt status or higher. Canopy says that for the first time in the… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Industrial relations deal signed in Bangladesh
DHAKA - Workers, employers and the government have agreed to work towards “improved and harmonious” industrial relations in Bangladesh where ongoing protests continue to disrupt the country's key garment export industry. Unrest at garment factories… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Teijin invests in and adopts traceability software
TOKYO – Japanese fibre manufacturer Teijin has invested in blockchain traceability specialist Circularise and will adopt its platform. Teijin says the move enables the company to obtain raw materials with a lower environmental impact and will… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Recover to open textile recycling plant in Vietnam
ALICANTE - Spanish materials science company Recover has opened a new facility in Vietnam, part of its plan to globally roll-out its textile recycling technology. Scheduled to be operational by early 2025, the new facility will be located in the… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Textile growth 'threatens climate goals'
LONDON - The continuing growth of global textile production is incompatible with key climate goals, according to a new report from the Textile Exchange industry body. Entitled 'Reimagining Growth Landscape Analysis', it warns that environmental and… -
Tuesday, 03 December 2024Aditya Birla partners with GIZ on circularity drive
VARANASI - Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) and German development agency GIZ have come together to launch a new set of circularity guidelines for the Indian textile and apparel industry. Entitled ‘Stitching the Circle: A Roadmap for Circular… -
Monday, 02 December 2024Exotic skins banned from London Fashion Week
LONDON - The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that London will become the first of the four main fashion weeks to ban exotic animal skins from next year's event. It means that designers staging catwalk shows at the event will have to… -
Monday, 02 December 2024LifeLabs unveils ‘bio-based’ thermal control textile
SUNNYVALE - US sustainable textile start-up LifeLabs has developed an ultra-packable and breathable fabric that as well as being made from 97% recycled and bio-based content, uses a nano-metallic coating that uses less than one paper clip worth of… -
Monday, 02 December 2024Fast Retailing shares fall amid China backlash
YAMAGUCHI – Shares in Uniqlo owner and Japanese fashion giant Fast Retailing have fallen after chief executive Tadashi Yanai said the company did not use cotton from China's Xinjiang region where Uyghur Muslims are allegedly used as forced labour.… -
Monday, 02 December 2024Bangladesh 'faces chemical safety crisis'
Bangladesh’s lack of a comprehensive legal framework for chemical safety is putting workers’ health and lives at risk and compounding environmental degradation, according to a new report. The study, published in Hygiene and Environmental Health… -
Monday, 02 December 2024
UK chemical firm expands with Avocet acquisition
MANCHESTER - Speciality chemical manufacturer John Hogg Technical Solutions has acquired Avocet, the UK manufacturer of textile flame retardants, dyes and high-performance auxiliaries that’s continuing to build its offer around the OekoTex ECO… -
Monday, 02 December 2024Collaboration targets sustainable water management
GUIMARÃES - A joint initiative made up of members from Spain’s and Portugal’s textile industry has unveiled a new closed-loop system for treating and reusing textile wastewater. Developed by textile finishing specialist Jeanologia; AITEX, the Spanish… -
Sunday, 01 December 2024ERCA TCS Among GreenItaly 2024's Sustainability Leaders!
SPONSORED CONTENT - We are thrilled to announce that ERCA TCS has been recognized in the prestigious GreenItaly 2024 Report, a cornerstone publication on Italy’s green economy by Fondazione Symbola with partners like Conai, Ecopneus, Enel and… -
Friday, 29 November 2024Cotton Australia 'nightmare' drift warning
SYDNEY – Cotton Australia has issues a warning of a possible "nightmare" spray drift season with incidents already being reported as ongoing wet weather results in an explosion of weeds. Spray drift reports normally begin to filter through in… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Report urges circular transition for textiles
AMSTERDAM – The Circle Economy Foundation has released a new report which claims to be the first ever in-depth analysis of the textiles sector's transition towards circularity. The Circularity Gap Report Textiles, in collaboration with the H&M… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Uniqlo owner criticised over Xinjiang claim
YAMAGUCHI – Uniqlo owner and Japanese fashion giant Fast Retailing has been criticised by a leading forced labour expert after claiming it does not use cotton from the Xinjiang region of China in its products. Fast Retailing's chief executive… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Cotton's forced labour issues go beyond China
Forced labour remains an issue in cotton - and not just in China's Xinjiang region. This has implications for the rollout of human rights due diligence (HRDD) requirements and for ethical sourcing. Anti-Slavery International recently alerted us to… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024GFA unveils ‘blueprint’ for textile recycling at scale
COPENHAGEN - Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), in partnership with German development agency GIZ and the H&M Foundation, has launched a new ‘blueprint’ aimed at scaling up recycling operations in the textile and garment supply chain. The ‘Upstream… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Calls for Australian brands to pay living wage
MELBOURNE – Oxfam Australia has claimed that some of the country’s biggest fashion brands are underpaying female garment workers in their supply chains despite making huge profits. Oxfam says that Kmart Group, Big W, Cotton On, Rip Curl and… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Circ gears up for commercial recycling
DANVILLE – The ongoing cooperation agreement between circular technology developer Circ and textile machinery specialist Andritz has taken a major step forward with the Austrian firm receiving an engineering order to design a manufacturing system… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024OCA hosts India stakeholder event
NEW DELHI - The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) is bringing together farmers, brands, suppliers, manufacturers and public sector representatives at its stakeholder event in New Delhi this week in a bid to foster collaboration and accelerate… -
Thursday, 28 November 2024Progress on climate change 'still too slow'
STOCKHOLM – Progress of the Scandinavian fashion industry towards its targets on mitigating climate change is too slow with the pursuit of profits still prevailing, according to a new report. The Scandinavian Textile Initiative for Climate Action's… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024Textile-to-textile recyclers flock to Pasadena
Less than 1% of the 124 million tonnes of textiles produced globally in 2023 were the result of recycling pre- and post-consumer textile waste, according to Textile Exchange's recent Materials Market Report. This speaks volumes for the ambitions of… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024AbTF links with TextileGenesis on traceability
HAMBURG – The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is linking up with blockchain technology specialist TextileGenesis to enhance traceability for fibre produced under its Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) programme. AbTF will use TextileGenesis' Fibercoins… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024Denim giant updates on environmental progress
LOS ANGELES - Denim manufacturer Saitex, which claims to operate the “cleanest denim factories in the world”, has published its latest sustainability report in which it highlights its key environmental achievements. Highlights for the year include… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024Better Buying subscribers 'improve practices'
NEWARK - More than 70% of the Better Buying Institute’s (BBI) 22 subscriber companies have improved their purchasing practices over the last 12 months, according to the organisation's latest Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI). The BBI… -
Wednesday, 27 November 2024Report highlights Romania’s textile waste battles
BUCHAREST - Environmental authorities in Romania have warned the country is becoming a dumping ground for waste that enters the country labelled as used clothing. The warning follows an investigation by the global Organized Crime and Corruption… -
Tuesday, 26 November 2024Agrivoltaics 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 2024ACT 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 2024Greater 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 2024Avantium 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 2024US 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 2024Environmental 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 2024Reju 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 2024Can 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 2024Primark 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 2024Digital 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 2024Turning 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…
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