Data from Textile Exchange’s Materials Benchmark shows that the 384 participating fashion, textile and apparel brands and retailers increased their sourcing of cotton, polyester, polyamide (nylon), viscose and wool through standards, certifications and other programs verifying preferred production practices from 68% in 2024 to 72% in 2025. Across global production of these fibers, the corresponding share was only 20%.

The difference was particularly pronounced for cotton: 82% of cotton sourced by Materials Benchmark participants came from preferred production systems, compared with 38% of total global cotton production.

Recycled polyester gains among reporting companies

Benchmark participants also reduced their use of new virgin fossil-based polyester from 0.54 million tonnes in 2024 to 0.48 million tonnes in 2025. At the same time, the share of recycled polyester in their overall polyester sourcing increased from 67% to 76%.

The global picture was markedly different. New virgin fossil-based polyester production increased from 68 million tonnes in 2024 to 73 million tonnes in 2025, while recycled polyester’s share of global polyester fiber production remained unchanged at 12%.

Textile-to-textile recycling also remains limited. Around 97% of recycled polyester produced globally in 2025 still came from plastic bottles, while textile-to-textile recycled fiber production across all fibers remained at about 1% of total production.

Beth Jensen, Chief Impact Officer at Textile Exchange, said the results demonstrate what can be achieved by companies actively pursuing changes in their material sourcing: “Our latest annual data offers evidence of the progress that can be made when companies are committed, engaged, and willing to work together to accelerate the transition to preferred production systems. From an increase in the proportion of materials from sustainability programs used, to reduced reliance on virgin fossil-based inputs, those who are part of the Textile Exchange community are demonstrating their leadership, outpacing the trends seen across the global production volume data.”

Global fiber production reaches 139 million tonnes

Textile Exchange’s Materials Market Report shows that global fiber production increased by seven million tonnes in just one year, from 132 million tonnes in 2024 to a record 139 million tonnes in 2025. This is equivalent to around 17 kg of fiber per person, compared with 8.3 kg in 1975.

The increase was driven in part by rising production of new virgin fossil-based fibers, which grew from 81 million tonnes to 86 million tonnes.

Polyester remained by far the world’s most widely produced fiber. Production increased from 77.7 million tonnes in 2024 to 82.5 million tonnes in 2025, maintaining a 59% share of total global fiber production. Of this volume, 72.8 million tonnes, or 88%, was virgin fossil-based polyester.

Cotton remained the second-largest fiber category with 25.7 million tonnes and an 18% market share. Manmade cellulosic fibers increased from 8.4 million tonnes to 9.1 million tonnes, representing 7% of global fiber production.

There was some progress in preferred production systems. Cotton from certified programs increased from 8.4 million tonnes in 2024 to 9.4 million tonnes in 2025, equivalent to 37% of all virgin cotton fiber. Two-thirds of manmade cellulosic fibers were produced using FSC- and/or PEFC-certified or controlled feedstock.

Technical textiles record strongest long-term growth

For the first time, the Materials Market Report also includes updated estimates of the volumes flowing into different textile end-use sectors.

Technical textiles recorded the strongest growth among the three largest end-use categories between 1990 and 2025. The sector – including automotive textiles, construction materials, medical products, filtration systems, geotextiles and nonwoven hygiene products – achieved an estimated compound annual growth rate of approximately 4.1%. This compares with 3.2% for home textiles and 2.6% for apparel.

Fiber-related emissions continue to rise

The report also points to a widening gap between industry climate ambitions and global material production. Textile Exchange estimates that greenhouse gas emissions associated with raw materials for the apparel, home textiles, bags and footwear industries reached approximately 325 million tonnes CO₂e in 2025, around 30% above the 2019 baseline.

Polyester accounted for approximately 43% of these emissions, with virgin fossil-based polyester responsible for the vast majority of its impact. Manmade cellulosic fibers accounted for around 13%, nylon and cotton approximately 11% each, sheep wool around 8%, and leather around 3%.

Traceability remains a major challenge

Despite the progress among reporting companies, traceability remains a significant weakness. In 2025, 79% of all raw materials used by Materials Benchmark participants were reported as having an “unknown country of origin”.

At the same time, 92.4% of participating companies reported having formal climate targets, while the share with formal nature targets increased from 22.3% in 2024 to 27.8% in 2025. Among companies using animal fibers, 88% reported having an animal welfare policy.

From 2027, annual reporting of raw material use through the Materials Benchmark will become mandatory for brand and retailer members of Textile Exchange’s Action Cohort. Membership will also require companies to set targets for sourcing materials through systems that verify production practices.

Sarah Needham, Chief Engagement and Partnerships Officer at Textile Exchange, said the expanded reporting requirements are intended to strengthen both individual and collective progress tracking: “By sharing data and building a clearer picture of collective progress, we can improve our understanding of what works and accelerate change across the industry.”