CIRCULARTEXTILES PROGRAM

ADDRESSING A GLOBAL PROBLEM

FASHION IS THE SECOND MOST POLLUTING INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD Upstream, the production of textile fibres is land, energy and water intensive and reliant on finite resources. In the coming six years, global fibre demand is estimated to rise from 65 to 90 million tonnes*. This level of production is economically unstable and ecologically unsustainable.Downstream the impact of the booming textiles industry and a fast-fashion model of production and consumption can be seen in the growing volume of low-quality, post-consumer textile waste, for which there are now limited end-of-life solutions.

With a growing population demanding even more resources like food, clothing and energy and an increasingly unstable climate driving downward pressure on productivity, it is apparent that the industry needs to find a new way of working.

CIRCULARTEXTILES PROGRAM

UPSTREAM FIBER PRODUCTION

DOWNSTREAM TEXTILE WASTE

2650LITERS WATER

COTTON PRODUCTION

1COTTONT-SHIRT

14BATHTUBS

10%WORLD’SPESTICIDES

25%WORLD’SINSECTICIDES

2.4% TOTAL ARABLE LAND

POLYESTER PRODUCTION

1 TON POLYESTER

5 TON CO2

20 MILLIONTONNES

EU

4 MILLIONELEPHANTS

APPROXIMATE LANDFILLED TEXTILE WASTE

EVERY YEAR IN US AND EU

US

METHANE

GREENHOUSE GASSES SEEP INTO THE SOILAND HARMFUL CHEMICALSIN THE FABRIC

3.7 TRILLION LITERS WATER

1.5 MILLIONOLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS

125 TRILLION LITERS OIL

50 MILLIONOLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS

9 BILLION KG CHEMICALS

ANNUAL GLOBAL FIBER PRODUCTION

1800 MILLIONELEPHANTS

Source*Global fibre overview, 2014**Reformation

**

**

OUR MISSION

CLOSING THE LOOP FOR TEXTILES TO ENABLE RESOURCE SECURITY, LONG TERM PRICE STABILITY AND A THRIVING ENVIRONMENTThe Circular Textiles Program (CTP) is a sector specific initiative within Circle Economy. Since its launch in 2014, the focus of the program has been to accelerate the system innovation (e.g. circular business modelling, regulatory incentives, design and marketing strategies, consumer engagement, market development) needed to allow technological innovation in textile material recovery reach its full impact.

Our mission is to ‘close the loop’ for post-consumer textiles and create a system whereby products, fabrics and fibres are infinitely and effectively cycled through connected loops within and across industries in a transparent and economical way. We envision a textiles industry where producers apply business practises that enable circular use of textile resources and promote social justice, and consumers have a healthy relationship with textiles, based on sustainable consumer practises.

Ultimately, a circular textile industry will enable continued fibre consumption without the depletion or destruction of resources and ecosystems, on which we are dependent.

RE

COVER AND RECYCLE

DISPLACE VIRGIN FIBER INDUSTRY

ELIMINATE TEXTILES WASTE

• All textiles are recovered and recycled• Divert one million tonnes of textile waste from landfill/incineration in EU due to increased collection rates• Save 3 million tonnes CO2 • Prevent toxin leakage in soil.

CREATE VALUE FROM SECONDARY RESOURCES

• High value recycling as a major commercial industry • Achieve high value recycling of 500.000 tonnes of post consumer textiles into new textile products in EU• Create over 400 jobs. • Value creation of trash (low grade textiles) to treasure (resources).

• Recovered textile resources compete with virgin in quality and price• Reduce Industry by reducing virgin fibre production with 0.5% through introduction alternative secondary textile resources. • Decrease water consumption, chemical use, CO2 emissions etc.

TARGETS PROGRAM 2025

RE

COVER AND RECYCLE

DISPLACE VIRGIN FIBER INDUSTRY

ELIMINATE TEXTILES WASTE

• All textiles are recovered and recycled• Divert one million tonnes of textile waste from landfill/incineration in EU due to increased collection rates• Save 3 million tonnes CO2 • Prevent toxin leakage in soil.

CREATE VALUE FROM SECONDARY RESOURCES

• High value recycling as a major commercial industry • Achieve high value recycling of 500.000 tonnes of post consumer textiles into new textile products in EU• Create over 400 jobs. • Value creation of trash (low grade textiles) to treasure (resources).

• Recovered textile resources compete with virgin in quality and price• Reduce Industry by reducing virgin fibre production with 0.5% through introduction alternative secondary textile resources. • Decrease water consumption, chemical use, CO2 emissions etc.

OUR APPROACH

ACHIEVING IMPACT THROUGH BUILDING A NEW CIRCULAR ECOSYSTEMThrough our Circular Textiles Program, Circle Economy is engaging in strategic partnerships with Industry stakeholders to create the best practices that will shape the textile industry of tomorrow. We work with companies that want to be at the forefront of change, and pioneer in the Circular Textiles Movement.

Together with our members and partners, Circle Economy takes a leading role in initiating, managing and implementing iconic pilot projects, that move us closer to the end-goal of circularity.

We have identified three key stakeholder groups that are essential actors in achieving circularity in the textile industry. Together, these three stakeholder groups represent the global and local perspective and will shape the new circular ecosystem that is needed to establish and upscale new closed loop processes.

TEXTILE SORTING PROJECT

CIRCULATORHIGH VALUE

RECYCLING

ONGOING CIRCULAR CONCEPT PILOTS

Explore and develop successful and futureproof

circular strategies & business models.

• Reduce environmental impact• Strong & positive brand value• Reduce cost/risk mitigation• Increase revenue & margins• Increase competitive

advantage

COLLECTORS, SORTERS & RECYCLERS CITIESBRAND

Establish the market and partner network that is needed to innovate,

improve and grow their business.

• Access to new markets, customers

• Benefit from positioning as frontrunner & spreading the word: PR/communication

• Connect to supporting ecosystem and partners for (pilot) projects

• Accelerate and increase success rate of R&D efforts

• Accelerate the enabling system: consumer demand, infrastructure, policy incentives

Create economical value, improve environmental

performance and engage the public based on innovative waste to

resource approaches for textiles.

• Reduce textile waste (environmental performance)

• Engage the public (consumer collection)

• Innovate (new sorting & recycling technologies)

• Create jobs (textile recycling chain)

• Create value (trash to treasure)• Stimulate entrepreneurship

(new business models around re-use, remanufacture, recycling, collaborative consumption of textiles)

JOIN THE CIRCULAR TEXTILES ECOSYSTEM AND PILOT NEW CIRCULAR CONCEPTS

WE OFFERTools, materials and workshops to help you:Learn from Industry best practisesMap concrete opportunitiesFormulate circular design strategiesSet clear goals, make decisions and create actionable plans

Insights into latest industry innovations and technological developments relevant for you.

Access to our global network and events that will allow you to:Spar with like minded pioneers from a variety of industriesBenefit from mass adoption campaigns to create a circular movementCreate new successful linkages and partnerships

TEXTILE THURSDAY

“NEW INPUT, NEW IDEAS, ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE WORKING ON CLOSING THE LOOP ON TEXTILES..ENGAGING AND INSPIRING”

OUR MEMBERS“Recover joined the Circular Textiles Program because of a shared value and mission. The team’s process and approach toward our strategic projects has been extremely focused and organized throughout. Their expertise lies in centralizing, organizing and connecting the right players from the industry for the facilitation of the development of Closed Loop systems and a Circular Economy.” Recover Textiles, Strategic Partner High Value Recycling Project

“The fantastic project management has kept the momentum of the project going and helped keep all partners on the same page and working effectively together.

It has made working on the project a really enjoyable experience. Furthermore, the team’s comprehensive understanding of the challenges behind shifting from

a linear to circular model of resource use is imperative when realising practical solutions.

The team are proactive, motivated and great project leaders giving the project the best opportunity to succeed. CE aren’t just another talking shop,

they focus on identifying and developing projects that specifically work to enable this shift.”

Worn Again, Strategic Partner in The Textile Sorting Project

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR MISSION AND BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CIRCULAR TEXTILE PROGRAM?

Circle Economy is looking for all brands, retailers, collectors, sorters, recyclers and cities who want to be at the forefront of change, and part of the Circular Textiles Movement. Through a membership of the Circular Textiles Program you can engage in strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders to create the best practices that will shape the textile industry of tomorrow. Circle Economy’s strategic partners benefit from a broad network of organisations working towards shared objectives, circular business opportunities and alliances to jointly accelerate the transition towards a circular economy.

CONTACT USPlease contact Circle Economy’s membership manager Vera Moll to learn more about how your organisation can benefit from joining the Circular Textiles Program.

Membership managerVera Moll vera@circleeconomy.com

Lead Circular Textiles Program Hélène Smits helene@circle-economy.com

Project Developer Circular Textiles Program Gwen Cunningham gwen@circle-economy.com

Circle EconomyNieuwe Herengracht 951011RX AmsterdamThe Netherlands

+31 88 4040440