Goodwill, Reju, & WM Launch Textile Recycling, Selenis and Syre Announce NC Facility, Steve Madden Partners with Hilos on 3D Footwear & More
October 28- November 1 | A LOT happened in sustainable fashion this Week/End. Let's dive in!
Welcome to Week/End, your quick-hit guide to the week's sustainability news at the intersection of fashion, ethics, and business. We comb through the headlines—so you don’t have to. Consider this your shortcut to staying informed and spot opportunities— without the hassle or the overwhelm.
This week in sustainable fashion news!
Goodwill, Reju, and WM announce a textile recycling partnership
Syre and Selenis plan a recycling plant in North Carolina
Circ partners with Birla Cellulose to scale recycled textiles
Cascale updates governance to prioritize supplier input
Textile Exchange introduces the Materials Matter Standard
Australia funds Woolmark+ to cut wool industry emissions
6 new jobs in sustainable fashion added to the SFF Job Board
… and more!
Let’s dive in!
Goodwill and Reju Announce Plans for North America Textile Recycling Initiative in Collaboration with WM
Goodwill, Reju, and WM (Waste Management) announced plans to collaborate on a multi-year initiative to enhance textile recycling in North America. The effort will focus on developing systems for regional textile collection, sortation, reuse, and recycling to divert nonwearable textiles from the waste stream.
The initiative includes plans for Reju to construct a U.S.-based facility capable of regenerating polyester textiles into new materials. Goodwill and WM will pilot programs to collect and process discarded textiles, with materials unsuitable for resale intended to serve as feedstock for Reju’s recycling operations.
Selenis and Syre Announce Plans for Textile-to-Textile Recycling Plant in North Carolina
Syre and Selenis announced a strategic partnership to establish a textile-to-textile recycling plant in Cedar Creek, North Carolina, set to be operational by mid-2025. The facility will integrate depolymerization and polymerization technologies to recycle textiles into circular polyester at an industrial scale, producing up to 10,000 metric tons annually. The collaboration leverages Syre’s ambition to develop gigascale plants for circular polyester production and Selenis’ existing infrastructure, aiming to significantly reduce CO2 emissions—up to 85% compared to oil-based virgin polyester.
This initiative marks Syre’s first "Blueprint Plant," designed to set the foundation for its planned global expansion.
→ Read more about the partnership
Circ Partners with Birla Cellulose and Launches Fiber Club to Scale Next-Gen Textile Recycling
Textile recycling startup Circ is partnering with Birla Cellulose, the pulp and fiber division of India’s Aditya Birla Group, to support the commercial-scale production of recycled textiles. Under the agreement, Birla Cellulose will purchase a minimum of 5,000 metric tonnes of Circ’s recycled pulp annually for five years. The pulp will be converted into lyocell staple fiber, a versatile material that brands can use to manufacture garments.
This collaboration marks Circ’s first large-scale facility and demonstrates the potential for supplier involvement to drive industrial adoption of next-generation materials.
Also this week, Fashion for Good, Circ, and Canopy announced the launch of Fiber Club, a consortium designed to fast-track the adoption of next-generation recycled materials. Fiber Club offers brands early access to innovative textiles, secure supply agreements, and streamlined supply chain integration to support the transition to circular materials.
This collaboration aims to address barriers to scaling material innovation by fostering partnerships between brands and textile innovators. By providing brands with a reliable path to sourcing recycled materials, Fiber Club seeks to advance the adoption of next-gen solutions and drive systemic change in the textile industry.
Cascale Introduces New Governance Model to Promote Inclusivity and Prioritize Supplier Input in Textile Supply Chain.
Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, introduced a new governance model to enhance inclusivity and elevate supplier and manufacturer input in decision-making. The updated structure shifts member engagement from a regional to a member-type focus, aiming to balance the influence of brands and suppliers while improving collaboration across the supply chain.
Key initiatives include the evolution of the Higg Index tools, incorporating feedback to improve accuracy and support compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as the Manufacturer Climate Action Program, which promotes sustainable practices globally.
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Textile Exchange Launches ‘Materials Matter’ Standard
Textile Exchange introduced its Materials Matter Standard at its annual conference, aiming to create a unified framework for assessing the environmental, social, and climate impacts of raw material production. The new standard consolidates existing guidelines into an umbrella system to streamline certification, improve transparency, and meet growing regulatory demands. Following a global pilot in 2024, the finalized standard will be published in mid-2025, supporting the industry's goal of reducing Scope 3 emissions by 45% by 2030.
Accelerating Circularity released new report, "Truth & Consequences: The Global Polyester Report" on scalable recycling systems. Read the report.
AU Government Invests $4 Million in Woolmark+ Emissions Reduction Program
The Australian Government has invested AU$4 million in the Woolmark+ Australian Wool Industry Insetting Program, aimed at connecting apparel brands with woolgrowers to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through nature-based solutions. This initiative will create an insetting framework that supports emissions reductions within the textile supply chain.
A collaboration between Woolmark, Pollination, and Landcare Australia, the program tackles challenges faced by woolgrowers, including limited access to guidance and capital. It enables brands to demonstrate GHG reductions on wool-growing properties, helping them manage Scope 3 emissions.
Steve Madden Partners with Hilos on 3D On-Demand Footwear; Hilos Supports Portland’s MiOT Initiative
Steve Madden is collaborating with Portland-based Hilos to revolutionize its footwear production using 3D printing and generative design technology. This partnership enables Steve Madden to create shoes within 72 hours of an order, reducing production time and waste. Hilos' innovative platform leverages AI to facilitate custom design and efficient, sustainable manufacturing.
Hilos is contributing to Portland’s $125 million Made in Old Town (MiOT) project, a major initiative to establish a collaborative hub for innovation in the athletic and outdoor apparel sector. MiOT will provide spaces for material suppliers, research labs, and brand offices, offering advanced resources to both established and emerging brands. This project aims to foster joint product development, promote sustainability, and level the playing field for smaller brands by giving them access to state-of-the-art technology and facilities.
Carbios and Major Brands Release 100% Bio-Recycled T-Shirt
Sports company PUMA, as part of a multi-brand consortium, unveiled a T-shirt made entirely from textile waste using CARBIOS’ enzymatic biorecycling technology. The process breaks down polyester from mixed textile waste into its fundamental building blocks to create biorecycled polyester, achieving quality comparable to virgin polyester made from petroleum-based raw materials.
This project represents a significant step toward the consortium’s goal of developing and scaling fiber-to-fiber recycling technology for industrial use. By replacing petroleum with textile waste as a raw material, CARBIOS' process aims to advance circularity in the textile industry while reducing waste and carbon emissions.
💬 What’s your take on this week’s news? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and we might feature your response in next week’s newsletter!
Accelerating Circularity released new report, "Truth & Consequences: The Global Polyester Report" on scalable recycling systems. Read the report.
ICYMI: Applications for eBay’s Circular Fashion Fund are open until November 15, 2024. The fund, which supports sustainable initiatives, offers a $50,000 cash prize for the winner and additional funds for runners-up, along with mentorship and networking opportunities. → Apply here.
Apparel Impact Institute is looking for industry veterans with expertise in wet processing, decarbonization, energy solutions, and supply chain management to join their Climate Solutions Portfolio Advisory Council. Email CSPHelp@apparelimpact.org for more information.
Kering and the University of the Arts London’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion launched the "Governance for Tomorrow" initiative, a three-year program aimed at advancing sustainable governance practices in the luxury fashion sector. The initiative will bring together leaders from academia, NGOs, and industry to develop case studies and educational programs on governance models that prioritize sustainability, equity, and social justice. Applications for its Stewardship Board are open until November 27, 2024. → Submit your application
Spinnova secured €12.7M ($13.8 M) R&D loan to enhance sustainable fiber production. Read more.
Ambercycle and Arc'teryx partnered to incorporate recycled Cycora fiber in performance apparel. Read more.
Poshmark and Reformation launched one-click resale for Reformation items.
Netflix released the trailer for Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy, a new documentary special set to premiere on November 20. The documentary unveils the hidden strategies major global brands use to fuel consumerism, with insights from former industry insiders from companies like Adidas, Apple, and Amazon. → Watch the trailer.
💬 What’s your take on this week’s news? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and we might feature your response in next week’s newsletter!
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Appreciate this roundup, lots of big announcements this week!
So good. Thanks for compiling this. Its really helpful.