Textile and apparel sustainability update, June 2017
Environmental sustainability is a topic of growing importance within the global fibre, textile and apparel industry. Indeed, pressures to focus on environmental sustainability have prompted several companies to develop innovative new products and to adapt their business strategies. This report provides information on the latest product developments and business developments in relation to environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on: apparel and footwear; corporate social responsibility (CSR); dyes and auxiliaries; fabrics; fibres and yarns; home textiles; insulation materials; investments; joint ventures, cooperation, licensing and distribution; sewing threads; and upcycling. The report includes news from the following innovative companies and other organisations: Adidas, American & Efird (A&E), Athleta, Berghaus, Bobo Choses, Boll & Branch, Bolt Threads, Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation, Cordura, DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, Eastman Chemical Company, the Fibersort partner consortium, Grund America, H&M Foundation, HeiQ, Lenzing, Lindex, Mango, Milliken, NSF International, the Oeko-Tex Association, OVS, Parley for the Oceans, Patagonia, PrimaLoft, Primark, Schoeller Textil, Star Sock, Textilcolor, Textile Exchange, Unifi, West Elm and the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme.
SUMMARY
APPAREL AND FOOTWEAR
Athleta has launched its first range of Fair Trade Certified apparel items
Berghaus is expanding its collection of Made Kind apparel
Bolt Threads has developed its first commercial apparel product made from synthetic spider silk
Mango has developed an environmentally sustainable apparel collection called Mango Committed
Parley for the Oceans and Adidas have developed football jerseys and a running shoe which incorporate recycled plastic waste recovered from oceans
Football jerseys
Running shoe
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
13 ADDITIONAL COMPANIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS HAVE JOINED THE ZERO DISCHARGE OF HAZARDOUS
Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme
Five brands and retailers have signed up as the first participants in the European Clothing Action Plan
(ECAP)
Action plans
The ECAP project
Patagonia has announced plans to increase the number of its products which are manufactured in Fair
Trade Certified factories
Textile Exchange and NSF International will collaborate to merge the Responsible Down Standard and the Global Traceable Down Standard
The Oeko-Tex Association has awarded its first certificates for compliance with the Leather Standard by Oeko-Tex
DYES AND AUXILIARIES
Schoeller Textil and Textilcolor have collaborated in the development of a new auxiliary which accelerates the polyester dyeing process
FABRICS
Cordura and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products are collaborating in the development of performance fabrics which are environmentally sustainable
FIBRES AND YARNS
Eastman Chemical Company has developed a new brand of cellulosic yarn called Naia
Lenzing has launched a new fibre called Refibra which incorporates recycled materials
HOME TEXTILES
Boll & Branch has developed a new collection of 100% organic cotton flannel bedding and accessories
Grund America has developed a collection of bathroom rugs and towels which are made from organic cotton
Milliken has developed a collection of environmentally sustainable upholstery fabrics called Breathe by
Milliken
INSULATION MATERIALS
PrimaLoft has developed a version of its PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Active material which incorporates
45% RECYCLED CONTENT
INVESTMENTS
H&M Foundation has awarded Euro1 mn worth of grants through the Global Change Award
The Fibersort partner consortium has received Euro2 mn in funding from the European Commission’s
Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) Programme
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND
DISTRIBUTION
HeiQ has entered into a research partnership with Patagonia to develop novel ways of making durable water repellent (DWR) treatments which are environmentally sustainable and breathable
Unifi has collaborated with Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation in the establishment of manufacturing operations for its Repreve continuous filament yarn in Vietnam
SEWING THREADS
American & Efird (A&E) has developed a new sewing thread which incorporates Repreve yarn
UPCYCLING
Lindex has developed a limited edition collection of apparel which is made from upcycled denim garments
West Elm has collaborated with Whole Foods Market and The New Denim Project in the development of an environmentally sustainable kitchen linen and table linen collection
APPAREL AND FOOTWEAR
Athleta has launched its first range of Fair Trade Certified apparel items
Berghaus is expanding its collection of Made Kind apparel
Bolt Threads has developed its first commercial apparel product made from synthetic spider silk
Mango has developed an environmentally sustainable apparel collection called Mango Committed
Parley for the Oceans and Adidas have developed football jerseys and a running shoe which incorporate recycled plastic waste recovered from oceans
Football jerseys
Running shoe
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
13 ADDITIONAL COMPANIES AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS HAVE JOINED THE ZERO DISCHARGE OF HAZARDOUS
Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme
Five brands and retailers have signed up as the first participants in the European Clothing Action Plan
(ECAP)
Action plans
The ECAP project
Patagonia has announced plans to increase the number of its products which are manufactured in Fair
Trade Certified factories
Textile Exchange and NSF International will collaborate to merge the Responsible Down Standard and the Global Traceable Down Standard
The Oeko-Tex Association has awarded its first certificates for compliance with the Leather Standard by Oeko-Tex
DYES AND AUXILIARIES
Schoeller Textil and Textilcolor have collaborated in the development of a new auxiliary which accelerates the polyester dyeing process
FABRICS
Cordura and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products are collaborating in the development of performance fabrics which are environmentally sustainable
FIBRES AND YARNS
Eastman Chemical Company has developed a new brand of cellulosic yarn called Naia
Lenzing has launched a new fibre called Refibra which incorporates recycled materials
HOME TEXTILES
Boll & Branch has developed a new collection of 100% organic cotton flannel bedding and accessories
Grund America has developed a collection of bathroom rugs and towels which are made from organic cotton
Milliken has developed a collection of environmentally sustainable upholstery fabrics called Breathe by
Milliken
INSULATION MATERIALS
PrimaLoft has developed a version of its PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Active material which incorporates
45% RECYCLED CONTENT
INVESTMENTS
H&M Foundation has awarded Euro1 mn worth of grants through the Global Change Award
The Fibersort partner consortium has received Euro2 mn in funding from the European Commission’s
Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) Programme
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND
DISTRIBUTION
HeiQ has entered into a research partnership with Patagonia to develop novel ways of making durable water repellent (DWR) treatments which are environmentally sustainable and breathable
Unifi has collaborated with Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation in the establishment of manufacturing operations for its Repreve continuous filament yarn in Vietnam
SEWING THREADS
American & Efird (A&E) has developed a new sewing thread which incorporates Repreve yarn
UPCYCLING
Lindex has developed a limited edition collection of apparel which is made from upcycled denim garments
West Elm has collaborated with Whole Foods Market and The New Denim Project in the development of an environmentally sustainable kitchen linen and table linen collection
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Bolt Threads necktie made from synthetic spider silk
Figure 2: Items from the Mango Committed collection
Figure 3: FC Bayern Munich Parley
Figure 4: Garments incorporating Refibra
Figure 5: Boll & Branch cotton flannel bedding
Figure 6: Hagl?fs Barrier Rescue Jacket
Figure 7: Lindex: kimono and jeans from the Re:Design collection
Figure 8: West Elm + Whole Foods Market apron, oven mitt and pot holder
Figure 1: Bolt Threads necktie made from synthetic spider silk
Figure 2: Items from the Mango Committed collection
Figure 3: FC Bayern Munich Parley
Figure 4: Garments incorporating Refibra
Figure 5: Boll & Branch cotton flannel bedding
Figure 6: Hagl?fs Barrier Rescue Jacket
Figure 7: Lindex: kimono and jeans from the Re:Design collection
Figure 8: West Elm + Whole Foods Market apron, oven mitt and pot holder