Sustainable Fashion Industry Update | Week 25

Stay ahead, be informed and inspired on how you can adopt circular strategies in your business to drive positive change.

Here’s a round-up of some of the key stories in the industry this week ⬇️

1) The UKFT Association is leading a £4 million project which could drive thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill each year. ACT UK (Autosort for Circular Textiles Demonstration) is a 2 year project which will pioneer automated sorting of clothing and textiles which cannot be resold, and use as feedstock for recycling purposes. Just some of the partners of the project include Marks and Spencer, Tesco, PANGAIA, New Look, Reskinned, Oxfam,Worn Again Technologies and WRAP.

2) The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has landed a new initiative to help phase out PFAS and other potential hazardous chemicals in the supply chain of over 1,200 companies in the USA.

3) The European Parliament have backed a proposed BAN on the destruction of unsold textiles within the single market. The EU Ecodesign Framework for Sustainable Products was originally proposed to report only on discarded quantities, but this proposal has been updated to be an outright ban. Watch this space.

4) A research report in the US produced by the Material Innovation Initiative (MII) and the North Mountain Consulting Group , shared that 9/10 US customers would buy garments and also other products made from next Gen materials, instead of fossil-based products.

5) Outdoor retailer REI is to open a store dedicated to Pre-Loved used year apparel in late August in Clackamas, Oregon.

6) Google has unveiled a new shopping feature utilising AI, allowing users in the US to view clothing on a selection of models in a virtual fitting room. Customers can select models from sizes XXS - 4XL and represent different skin tones, body shape, ethical minorities and hair types.
The initiative will help customers shop online with confidence and reduce returns, of which a high percentage end up in landfill.