#Sustainability

2018-05-17

Industry leaders join forces to Make Fashion Circular

Some of the biggest names in fashion are joining forces to create a thriving industry based on the principles of a circular economy. As core partners of Make Fashion Circular, Burberry Group plc; Gap Inc.; H&M; HSBC, NIKE, Inc.; and Stella McCartney, will work with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to radically redesign the fashion industry. Together they will deliver the solutions needed to meet the changing demands and expectations of society, and address the issues that have seen the fashion industry become one of the most polluting and wasteful operating today.

Burberry Group plc; Gap Inc.; H&M; HSBC; NIKE, Inc.; and Stella McCartney announced as Core Partners of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative
Made possible by C&A Foundation and Walmart Foundation, the initiative will develop solutions to some of the biggest issues faced by the fashion industry
A circular economy for fashion that phases out harmful materials and keeps clothes in use can unlock a USD 560 billion economic opportunity
Actors from across the fashion industry will work to realise the vision

The initiative was made possible with the support of C&A Foundation and Walmart Foundation. A further 16 stakeholders, including city authorities, fashion producers, designers, and brands have joined the initiative as participants. The group will help drive momentum towards the vision for a circular economy for fashion, first set out in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2017 report ‘A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion’s future’.

“For the fashion industry to become truly circular, each part of the system must change and every actor must play its role. C&A Foundation understands the power of collaboration, which is why we supported the Circular Fibres Initiative and why we believe Make Fashion Circular is so crucial going forward. This initiative represents a significant opportunity to worktogether to fundamentally redesign and recreate the fashion system in a way that benefits everyone", said Douwe Jan Joustra, Head of Circular Transformation, C&A Foundation.

Participants of the Make Fashion Circular initiative will unite behind three key principles to create a system that delivers benefits for citizens, the environment, and businesses:

1. Business models that keep clothes in use

2. Materials that are renewable and safe

3. Solutions that turn used clothes into new clothes.

DuPont Biomaterials, Fung Group, Hallotex, I:Collect, Inditex, Kering, Lenzing Group, London Waste and Recycling Board, Nanushka, Primark, RadiciGroup, Solvay, Texaid, Tintex Textiles, VF Corporation, W.L. Gore and Associates have already signed as participants and others are invited to join.

By working towards this bold new vision, the fashion industry can capture USD 460 billion currently lost due to the underutilisation of clothes. An additional USD 100 billion from clothing that could be used, but is currently lost to landfill and incineration, can also be captured.

Ellen MacArthur, founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “For the fashion industry to thrive in the future we must replace the take-make-dispose model, which is worn out. We need a circular economy for fashion in which clothes are kept at their highest value and designed from the outset to never end up as waste. By joining forces to Make Fashion Circular we can harness the creativity and innovation that is at the heart of this USD 1.3 trillion industry to create a system that delivers benefits for everyone.”

And Julie Gehrki, Vice President-Program, Walmart Foundation, added: “The launch of Make Fashion Circular is an exciting step in the journey toward achieving a waste-free apparel industry. We hope this roadmap serves as a tool that helps build partnerships across all regions and markets, catalyzes action and accelerates innovation on critical issues related to sustainable apparel.”

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

Textile Exchange publishes cotton Life Cycle Assessment study to strengthen impact data

Textile Exchange has published the first in a series of seven Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies designed to improve the quality and robustness of environmental impact data for raw material production across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. The first LCA study focuses on cotton and addresses critical data gaps and methodology variability through new high-quality data across key producing countries. The study includes organic, regenerative, recycled, and country averages for conventional cotton production systems, providing a clearer picture of the associated environmental impact.

Covestro, FILK Freiberg, and OUT e.V. develop flexible, conductive polymer smart textile system

As the smart textiles market continues to grow across healthcare, personal protection, sportswear, and automotive applications, developers are seeking new ways to integrate electronic functionality directly into textiles, without the rigidity and complexity of conventional wiring. To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

Global growth in the technical textile sector drives interest in HIGHTEX 2026 to its peak

The continued steady growth of the technical textiles and nonwoven sector worldwide is increasing interest every year in the HIGHTEX Exhibition, one of the sector’s most important meeting points. In this strong growth climate, HIGHTEX 2026 International Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Exhibition, which will bring together the sector’s leading manufacturers, technology providers, and international buyers, is preparing to open its doors at Tüyap Fair and Congress Center on June 9–13, 2026.

RUDOLF is pioneering the future of technical textiles by developing innovative, functional solutions

At Techtextil 2026, RUDOLF presents its latest innovations for textile auxiliaries, textile care and construction chemicals. Based in Geretsried, Bavaria, the company draws on more than 100 years of experience and continues to position itself as a global technology partner focused on quality, innovation and sustainability.