The garment industry collaboration project has been launched, aiming to accelerate the development of the textile industry from a linear economic model to a sustainable circular economy model.
TextileExchange’s “Accelerated Cycle” program has received funding from the Walmart Foundation. In addition, GapInc, Target, and VFCorp also provided funding for this program.
The initiative is initially focused on research into pilot circular supply chains, finding circular roadmaps and further exploring their opportunities. Cotton, viscose fiber, and polyester textile waste are recycled and reprocessed through two process technologies: mechanical and chemical recycling. The top three fibers currently account for more than 80% of all textile fiber output.
Future phases of program implementation will use data and information from Phase 1 to execute this pilot project and establish new studies in other areas.
Alice Hartley, senior manager of sustainable innovation business at Gap Inc. and board member of Accelerating Circularity, said: Transforming the garment industry towards more circular solutions is complex and critical. Challenges of technology, economics and corporate influence.
At GapInc, we fulfill our responsibility to protect the environment and reduce waste at every stage of the production process (from design, procurement to manufacturing). In the process of solving the entire life cycle of garments, we look forward to working with like-minded partners to work for the health of our planet, expand industrial cooperation and share experiences.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States alone produces 15 million tons of textile waste every year. Partners of the new initiative said that the textile industry must obtain from “resources The “make-waste” linear economic model is transformed into a circular economic model, which can prevent a large amount of textile waste from being sent to landfills every year.
The founding partners funding the “Accelerate Cycle” program include Gap Inc, Giotex, Gr3n, Target, VFCorp, Lenzing, Unifi, RevolveWaste, and Fabrikology International Inc. They work in partnership with industry organizations to ensure representation of all stakeholders, including information sharing, enhanced delivery of key messages, and streamlined work.
These organizations include the American Apparel and Footwear Council, the Apparel Impact Institute, the Outdoor Industry Association for a Circular Economy, the Textile Exchange, the Recycling Workshop, and the American Fashion Industry Association .
