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Waste from the global apparel industry leaks about millions of tons of plastic in the environment every year, says a study conducted by the North Carolina State University
As per the study, the global apparel industry generated more than 20 million tons of plastic waste in 2019, with about 40 per cent potentially leaking into the environment, leading to a process known as 'plastic leakage.'
Richard Venditti, Professor -Paper Science and Engineering, NC State and Co-author of the study, notes, a significant portion of the plastic waste leaking into the environment comes from discarded clothes, particularly synthetic apparel. Additionally, waste is generated during manufacturing, packaging, and transportation, as well as from microplastics released into water during washing.
In 2019, synthetic apparel was identified as the largest source of plastic waste, accounting for 18 million tons. Researchers estimated that approximately 8.3 million tons of this waste may have leaked into the environment. Cotton clothing contributed 1.9 million tons of plastic waste, while the remaining 0.31 million tons came from other fibers. Unlike synthetic apparel, the plastic waste from cotton and other fibers primarily originated from packaging materials.
The study also finds that the location of apparel sales is not necessarily where plastic waste leaks into the environment. For apparel sold in high-income countries like the United States and Japan, most pollution occurred in lower-income countries where these clothes might end up in the secondary market. This points to a significant issue with the consumption habits in higher-income countries.
The study concludes by urging the apparel industry to adopt a more circular framework, emphasising recycling and reducing waste. It also recommends increasing the use of renewable, non-synthetic textiles.
The paper, titled ‘The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage,; appears in the open-access journal Nature Communications. The corresponding author is Anna Kounina of Quantis, with co-authors including Jesse Daystar, Sophie Chalumeau, Jon Devine, Roland Geyer, Steven T Pires, Shreya Uday Sonar, and Julien Boucher.
Global sports company Puma aims to expand its textile-to-textile recycling innovation, Re:Fibre by producing millions of replica football jerseys containing a minimum of 75 per cent recycled textile waste and other waste materials.
Starting from the 2024/25 season, Puma's football replica jerseys, including those for the Euro and Copa América tournaments, will be made using Re:Fibre.
Building on the success of the 46,000 Re:Fibre jerseys produced in 2023, Puma aims to reduce textile waste and decrease reliance on plastic bottles for recycled polyester products.
To achieve this, the brand is exploring various methods of recycling polyester, such as thermo-mechanical and chemical recycling techniques, to significantly enhance its capacity for recycling textile waste.
The brand aims to create 100 per cent of its polyester products from textile waste, says Anne-Laure Descours, Chief Sourcing Officer, Puma. It also plans to various activities at its New York flagship store, coinciding with the launch of the AC Milan and Manchester City home replica kits.
On July 20, 2024, the brand will sell one hundred limited edition badges, upcycled from match-worn jerseys by Jack Grealish and Christian Pulisic in stores.
On July 21, 2024, Andrew Burgess, Voice of RE: Generation, Puma will lead three upcycling workshops, teaching fashion enthusiasts techniques to customise and upcycle clothing to extend its lifespan.
India’s leading textile company Sportking India has launched a new technology called Controlled Release Enhanced Mating Interruption Technology (CREMIT) to support farmers boost their cotton production under the ‘San-Vardhan’ (cotton you can trust) initiative.
Launched in partnership with ATGC Biotech, the technology helps protect the cotton crop from Pink Bollworm (PBW) attack. It is currently being implemented across 2,000 acre in three districts of Punjab and Haryana.
Munish Avasthi, Managing Director, Sportking India, says, the CSR project San-Vardhan with CREMIT technology helps supports cotton farmers in North India by addressing the issue of PBW attack.
Dr. Baljinder Saini, Executive Director, Reviving Green Revolution Cell, the implementing partner for this project adds, similar initiatives need to be launched in other cotton growing areas in Central and South India.
A manufacturer of diversified range of textiles, Sportking India caters to the evolving demands of the weaving and knitting industry in India.
A significant decline in the area under cotton cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, has caused cotton candy prices to rise by 0.4 per cent to Rs 57,640.
The area under cotton cultivation in these three states has declined to10.23 lakh hectare from last year's 16 lakh hectare. In Punjab, the area under cotton cultivation has dropped sharply to 97,000 hectare from 7.58 lakh hectare. Similarly, cotton cultivation in Rajasthan declined from 8.35 lakh hectare last year to 4.75 lakh hectare this year, while Haryana's area under cotton fell from 5.75 lakh hectare to 4.50 lakh hectare in 2024.
Delays in shipments from the US and Brazil is also helping boost demand for Indian cotton from mills in neighboring countries. According to the 2024/25 US cotton projections, in June 2024, beginning and ending stocks are expected to remain higher compared to last month, with projected production, domestic use, and exports remaining unchanged. Ending stocks expected to increase by 400,000 bales higher to 4.1 million.
Globally, the 2024/25 cotton balance sheet shows increases in beginning stocks, production, and consumption, with world trade unchanged. World ending stocks are projected to increase by 480,000 bales to 83.5 million from May 2024.
Technically, the market is experiencing short covering, with open interest remaining unchanged at 358 contracts while prices increasing by Rs 230. Cotton candy is currently supported at Rs 57,380, with potential testing of Rs 57,130 if prices fall below this level.
Growing at a modest rate of 0.93 per cent, Pakistan’s textile and apparel (T&A) exports reached $16.55 billion in the FY 24 from $16.50 billion the previous year, as per the latest data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
This marginal increase underscores the challenges faced by the sector including new taxation measures and rising energy costs, which may impact its competitiveness compared to regional counterparts.
Recently, the government raised the tax rate on exporters' personal income for the fiscal year 2024-25, a move that industry analysts believe will affect future export figures.
According to PBS data, Pakistan’s textile exports declined by 3.91 per cent Y-o-Y to $1.41 billion in June 2024 from $1.47 billion in June 2023, ending a five-month streak of growth. On a M-o-M basis, Pakistan’s textile exports also fell by 9.23 per cent in June 2024.
Within the textile sector, specific categories showed varied results for FY24. RMG exports increased by 2.05 per cent in value and 1.99 per cent in volume during the year, while knitwear exports decreased by 0.66 per cent in value but increased by 41.44 per cent in volume. Bedwear exports grew by 4.12 per cent in value and 15.27 per cent in volume to reach $2.8 billion.
Towel exports increased by 5.55 per cent to $1.06 billion in value and 14 per cent in volume. However, cotton cloth exports declined by 7.7 per cent to $1.866 billion in value, despite a 16.15 per cent increase in quantity.
Conversely, the import of textile machinery plummeted, indicating a reduction in industry investments towards expansion or modernisation.
Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative, has partnered with FS Impact Finance to launch a fund aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in the cotton sector. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations outlines plans to pilot the fund in India.
The initiative will address the financial challenges faced by smallholders, who constitute over 90 per cent of the world's cotton farmers but often struggle to access financial support due to their Farmer Producer Organisations’ (FPOs) lack of credit history. In India, only a few of the 16,000 FPOs, which represent more than 5.8 million farmers, have access to formal financial markets.
The new fund will incentivize cotton farming communities to invest in women’s empowerment and climate resilience by eliminating traditional financing barriers. It aims to support FPOs in implementing gender and climate resilience activities, improving their credit history, and enabling them to develop sustainable growth plans.
Better Cotton CEO Alan McClay highlighted that the collaboration with FS Impact Finance could significantly advance ongoing efforts in India, emphasizing the initiative’s inclusive approach. FS Impact Finance Managing Director Martin Cremer noted that the fund aims to enhance conditions for smallholder farmers and contribute to the development and professionalization of local value chains.
Patagonia, the outdoor apparel giant, is facing a unique challenge: how to be a successful business while prioritizing environmental well-being. This struggle, known as the ‘Patagonia Paradox’, highlights the inherent tension between traditional business models focused on growth and sustainability efforts.
Fashion industry's environmental footprint
The fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution, relying on excessive production and consumption. Fast fashion, in particular, thrives on cheap, disposable clothing, leading to environmental damage and textile waste.
Patagonia's stance
Patagonia has long been a champion of environmental activism. The company encourages mindful consumption through its "Don't Buy This Jacket" campaign and focuses on building durable, long-lasting products. Additionally, Patagonia donates 1 per cent of its sales to environmental causes and recently converted itself into a trust dedicated to fighting climate change. It even restructured itself to make ‘Earth’ its sole shareholder. However, their core business – selling outdoor gear – inherently creates environmental impact. Every new item produced has an environmental impact. The company is exploring alternative models like resale (Worn Wear) to address this challenge.
Resale, a viable solution
CEO Ryan Gellert sees resale as a key strategy. Resale offers a more sustainable alternative to constant production. Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows customers to buy and sell used Patagonia gear. While profitable, resale is still a small portion of Patagonia's overall business. And critics argue resale simply encourages more consumption overall.
However, Patagonia isn't just focused on changing its own operations. Their 2011 "Don't Buy This Jacket" ad campaign famously urged consumers to reduce consumption. More recently, their mockumentary "The Shitthropocene" uses humor to address the environmental impact of fast fashion. However, some find such efforts preachy or lacking substance.
The paradox
Patagonia's efforts are not without criticism. Some view their sustainability messaging as hypocritical, and their use of plastics in some products contradicts their environmental goals. Their reliance on synthetics, even recycled ones, creates microplastic pollution. The company's lobbying efforts can be seen as contradictory. Additionally, their advocacy for stricter regulations can put them at odds with industry groups.
Despite the challenges, Patagonia remains a leader in sustainable business practices. Experts acknowledge Patagonia's positive impact while recognizing the inherent environmental footprint of a growing business. Patagonia's journey towards a more sustainable business model is ongoing. Challenges include finding alternatives to virgin plastics, navigating a changing regulatory landscape, and maintaining consumer trust. Despite these hurdles, Patagonia serves as an example for businesses seeking to balance profit with environmental responsibility. Whether their approach is a ‘magic trick’ or a work in progress, Patagonia's efforts are a step towards a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.
Renowned German fashion house, Hugo Boss revised its sales outlook downwards for FY24 amidst weakening global consumer demand, particularly in key markets like China and the UK.
The company now forecasts sales for the year to range between €4.20 billion ($4.58 billion) to €4.35 billion, down from its previous estimate of €4.30 billion-€4.45 billion.
In addition to lowering its sales expectations, Hugo Boss also adjusted its operating profit (EBIT) forecast to approximately €350 million-€430 million, down from the previously communicated range of €430 million-€475 million. This marks the second time this year that the fashion house has revised its sales guidance, reflecting ongoing challenges in global markets.
Earlier this year, Hugo Boss had already highlighted weaker demand in China and concerns about US consumer sentiment ahead of the presidential elections, which contributed to a decline in its first-quarter results and a subsequent drop in share prices to their lowest levels since 2022.
Preliminary figures for the second quarter show a 1 per cent decline in sales to approximately €1.02 billion, with operating profit (EBIT) reaching around €70 million on a preliminary basis. Despite efforts to expand through increased marketing expenditures and the opening of 102 new points of sale in 2023, Hugo Boss has faced headwinds in achieving anticipated sales growth, leading to investor caution and a decline in share value throughout the year.
The challenges faced by Hugo Boss mirror broader trends in the luxury goods sector, with other notable brands like Swatch and Burberry also reporting subdued sales and earnings due to weak demand for luxury items in China and other markets.
Isko, a leader in denim innovation, is making a significant impact at the Kingpins Show in New York City on July 17-18 at Pier 36, Basketball City. The event features a curated selection from Isko’s extensive denim collections, highlighting the company's dedication to combining sophisticated design with sustainability.
Attendees will explore Isko’s Main Collection, which is categorized into five key groups:
Inflexible: Classic rigid fabrics that honor denim’s heritage.
Motion: Offers comfort and freedom of movement while maintaining a traditional denim look.
Extended: Showcases the traditional denim aesthetic with advanced stretch capabilities, including 4-way stretch technologies.
Elite: Features fabrics that deliver exceptional softness, shine, and a silky feel.
Momentum: Includes unique finishes, intricate constructions, and innovative denim features.
Other notable highlights include the Casual Line, a premium fabric collection made from FSC certified viscose and recycled polyester, and Isko Luxury by PG, curated by Paolo Gnutti to blend classic and contemporary styles.
Isko’s FW 25-26 collection features RE&UP fibers, made from recycled textile waste, offering a sustainable alternative to virgin fibers. Marco Lucietti, Director of Strategic Projects at Isko, expressed excitement about showcasing their sustainable innovations and pushing fashion boundaries at Kingpins NYC.
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is offering two in-depth workshops this year to provide industry professionals with a strong foundation in textile science.
The Color Management Workshop, happening August 14-15, is designed for those involved in bringing colored products to market, such as merchandisers, designers, and manufacturers. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of color principles, including how lighting and digital tools affect color perception. The workshop will also delve into cost considerations, dyeing processes, and strategies for achieving consistent color throughout production.
New for 2024is theTextile Testing Workshop for Specifiers, running September 17-18. This workshop equips designers, product managers, and entrepreneurs with the knowledge to select appropriate textile tests for their products. Attendees will learn about standardized testing methods for various performance properties, colorfastness, and legal requirements. The workshop will also provide practical skills for interpreting test results.
Both workshops will be held at the AATCC Technical Center and offer limited enrollment for a personalized learning experience. Registration includes meals, course materials, and valuable industry resources. Early registration is recommended.
By investing in these workshops, professionals can gain the expertise needed to make informed decisions about textile selection, product development, and performance claims. AATCC's commitment to textile testing education empowers the industry to deliver high-quality, innovative, and safe textile products.
