The pledge was organized by Textile Exchange, a global non-profit that promotes the adoption of preferred fiber and materials, integrity and standards and responsible supply networks, through its Recycled Polyester Working Group. The participating companies represent the diverse elements of the value chain, including brands, retailers, suppliers and associated industry organizations. “We believe that supporting, on a precompetitive basis, investment in further developing rPET production around the globe, will lead to more efficient supply chains and increase the availability of more sustainable fiber choices in the market,” said Karla Magruder, Textile Exchange Board Member and Sustainability Consultant, who led the effort through the non-profit’s rPET Working Group.

The commitment will be tracked via participation in the Polyester Module of Textile Exchange’s annual Preferred Fiber and Materials Benchmark Survey. The baseline for measuring progress will be the usage published in the 2017 Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber and Materials Market Report (PFMR.) According to the PFMR, participant rPET usage is 47,407 mt. A 25% increase by 2020 is projected to provide the following benefits:

• 2,868,000,000 bottles diverted from landfill.
• 35,329,509 kg reduction in human toxicity.
• 1,849,464 MJ saved on primary energy demand.
• 122,823 kg reduced Co2.

Sweden-based global furnishings company IKEA is one of the companies that accepted the challenge. “We are committed to use resources with the utmost efficiency and turn waste into resources,” said IKEA Category Area Manager, Textiles Lena Julle, who is globally responsible for all supply chain activities related to textiles and who sets the company’s textile material direction and agenda. “The IKEA ambition is to not use any virgin oil based polyester in textiles by 2030. To commit to use 25% more rPET by 2020 is a natural step towards our ambition."