This week PUMA Group announced they will be using waste fabric to produce all replica football club jerseys from 2024. The ‘Recycle Fibre’ technology was trialled in 2022, and is made from recycled materials made from old garments and factory waste, rather than recycled polyester from plastic bottles.
Last week at COP28, we heard about the plan to develop an off-shore wind project in Bangladesh, in partnership with
BESTSELLER, H&M Group, Global Fashion Agenda and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The investment will be a significant step in limiting GHG emissions in the value chain – a challenge the entire fashion industry is trying to tackle, and operations are set to commence in 2028.
Figure: Circular fashion review by Lydia Brearley.
We also heard the news that the European Commission have reached a ‘preliminary’ deal on the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The ESPR aims to improve product longevity, energy and resource efficiency, repair ability, and recyclability and also proposes a Digital Product Passport. What’s also key is the proposed ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, which, if adopted, would require larger companies to report on the disposal of unsold consumer products.
HUGO BOSS have linked up with Zurich based venture capital platform Collateral Good, to launch a €100 million fund to invest in startups focusing on sustainable fashion technologies and promoting environmental sustainability.
As textile recycling continues to gain momentum as a key facilitator in driving a circular economy, a total of 18 European companies from across the textile and clothing supply chain, have formally joined ReHubs. ReHubs is EURATEX – European Apparel and Textile Confederation project aimed at upscaling textile waste and recycling.
The Footwear Distributers and Retailers of America (FDRA) released their 2023 Shoe Sustainability Progress Report, outlining the state of sustainability and commitment to sustainable practices in the footwear industry. Key findings reveal progress in integrating recycled content into shoes whilst maintaining performance, the challenges around certifying materials, and the complexities around the adopting biomaterials and driving transparency in complex supply chains.
In other news Axel Arigato have teamed up with speaker brand Transparent, releasing a unique and limited run of speakers made from upcycled sneakers soles.
Rapha are the latest brand to partner with United Repair Centre (UPC) in Amsterdam. The collaboration marks and exciting step in their circularity journey for Rapha, promoting high-quality clothing repair services to extend the life cycle of clothing.
