Closed Loop Fashion is pleased to announce a new partnership with Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), H&M Foundation, Reverse Resources (RR) and Circle Economy. This collaboration aims to strengthen the efforts of the Global Circular Fashion Forum (GCFF) over the next three years. Currently active in Bangladesh, in development in Cambodia and Vietnam, and set to launch in Turkey and Indonesia, this initiative constitutes the largest and most comprehensive circular system project ever initiated.
Circular systems within the fashion industry present an opportunity for diminishing the utilization of finite resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering inclusive employment opportunities. Despite these advantages, the global circularity rate has decreased from 9.1% in 2018 to 7.2% in 2023, indicating a widening disparity in circular practices (Circularity Gap Report, 2023).
Expanding the adoption of textile-to-textile recycling technologies holds the potential to see 75% of products crafted from recycled materials, leading to improved profitability and significant job generation (Scaling Circularity, 2021). Regrettably, the current recycling rate for textile waste is less than 1% worldwide, resulting in an annual loss of over USD 100 billion worth of materials (Circular Business Models, 2021).
With the support of H&M Foundation and the project partner consortium lGFA, Circle Economy, and Reverse Resources, Closed Loop Fashion aims to expand the reach and impact of GCFF. Together, we will work towards creating a fully circular fashion industry through knowledge exchange, multi stakeholder facilitation, and industry mobilization. As of November 2023, the GCFF, along with its National Circular Fashion Partnerships, had recycled 10,685 tonnes of textile waste, equivalent to roughly 60 million t-shirts. This was achieved through the collaboration of 179 manufacturers, 15 waste handlers, and 22 recyclers, forming a cooperative community.
By collaborating with H&M Foundation and other key partners in this project, we aim to achieve three key objectives: mobilizing the industry to use recycled materials with lower carbon impact, facilitating knowledge exchange, and enabling the establishment of National Circular Fashion Partnerships in manufacturing countries.
The National Circular Fashion Partnerships (NCFPs) initiative aims to establish national platforms involving various stakeholders to address textile waste recycling and reduce virgin resource use. It focuses on setting up infrastructures for recycling textile waste, involving manufacturers, brands, governments, recyclers, NGOs, and others to develop a shared vision and roadmap for circular textiles in their country. The initiative also supports informal workers to participate in circular systems while ensuring fair value, safe work environments, and compliance. Each NCFP runs for approximately three years and includes phases for design, piloting, and scaling, resulting in an independent operating system handed over to key national stakeholders for sustainability.
The partnership between Closed Loop Fashion, Global Fashion Agenda, Reverse Resources, Circle Economy and H&M Foundation marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and circular fashion industry. Together, we are dedicated to creating positive change and building a future where fashion production will be environmentally and socially responsible.
