Circular, sharing business models preferred over recycling: UK report

Academia, brands, institutions and industry bodies are advancing education into circularity, and overall, circular and sharing business models (CSBMs) that enable the re-use of existing garments was preferred over recycling, it found.

Retailers and reprocessors in the United Kingdom are most supportive of implementing an industry-led approach to extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, it said.

Overall, there was awareness by many stakeholders that policy was needed to change the industry. Manufacturers and reprocessors see the need for feedstock standards to boost their operations.

Although there is interest in developing label standards, there is less apparent understanding of feedstock standards for the UK textiles recycling industry, the report said.

The report has been co-authored with GreenWith Studio, and focuses on how leveraging technology can help to address key challenges facing the fashion industry, including low usage and blame being placed on the consumer for their high consumption rates.

Existing technologies such as RFID tags and QR codes need to be leveraged to provide necessary information and instructions on how to prolong the life of clothes, it said.

Provenance and traceability information, as well as instructions on sustainable laundering and how to repair, recycle and dispose of clothes should also be included in QR codes, it suggested.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)