Circulo

Circulo Weekly Roundup | 27th March 2025 A round-up of news in repair, sustainability & legalisation ? 50 US States Now Considering Right to Repair Legislation All 50 US states have now considered Right to Repair legislation, a milestone for the repair movement. State-level efforts have gained momentum due to less manufacturer lobbying compared to Congress. Recent campaigns have received support from companies like Google, with PIRG highlighting that extended device lifespans in Washington state alone could save over $1.1 billion and significantly reduce emissions. ? ThredUp Report: Secondhand Market to Reach $367B by 2029 The global secondhand apparel market will grow to $367 billion by 2029, expanding 2.7 times faster than the overall apparel market. In the US, the secondhand market is expected to reach $74 billion by 2029, growing 9% annually. A record 58% of consumers shopped secondhand in 2024, with 54% of retail executives believing resale provides more stable inventory amid potential tariff fluctuations. ? Coach Partners with Bank & Vogue Ltd/Ltée. on Upcycled Collection Bank & Vogue, parent company of Beyond Retro, has partnered with Coach on upcycled bags. The collection transforms repurposed denim and leather into luxury accessories, featuring patchwork designs of Coach's classic styles. ? EU Commits €520M to Fund Three Industry Sustainability Partnerships The European Commission will invest €520M in three new industry partnerships, with private partners matching this amount for a total of €1.04B by 2030. The funding covers solar power manufacturing (€240M from EU), sustainable textiles (€30M from EU), and advanced materials (€250M from EU). The textiles partnership will transform the industry toward circularity and sustainability through digital innovations and new business models, while the advanced materials initiative will develop safe, sustainable materials designed for the circular economy. The first funding opportunities will begin in 2025, strengthening Europe's manufacturing capabilities while reducing dependency on imports. ? Sustainability Remains Key Despite Policy Shifts Despite changing global policy towards ESG, including US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, sustainability remains crucial for business resilience, argues Danske Bank's Head of Sustainability. Fundamentals like efficiency, resilience, and productivity continue to drive business value. Europe remains committed to net zero targets, with Northern Ireland's Programme for Government including a Net Zero Accelerator Fund, ￡150M investment zone, and incentives for green transitions. ?? Links are in the comments ? Sign up to receive the weekly news in your inbox with our white paper

Circulo Weekly Roundup | 20th March 2025 A round-up of news in repair, sustainability & legalisation ? Circ? Secures US $25 Million in Funding for Textile Recycling Plant Textile-to-textile recycler Circ has raised US $25 million in a funding round led by Taranis, an asset management and investment group. The funding will support Circ's transition from demonstration-scale to industrial-scale production, with plans for its first large-scale mixed textile recycling facility. Existing strategic investors Avery Dennison and Inditex (Zara's parent company) also participated in this round. ? British Fashion Council Low Carbon Transition Programme for SMEs Releases 2025 Report The BFC's Institute of Positive Fashion has published its 2025 report on the Low Carbon Transition Programme, which supported 50 London-based SMEs in measuring their emissions and creating decarbonisation roadmaps through 2030. A total of 31,057 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent was measured across all brands, with commitments to reduce emissions by an average of 25% by 2030. ? Vogue Business: 6 Sustainability Moments You Might Have Missed From Fashion Month Despite sustainability taking a backseat during Fashion Month, Emily Chan highlights six notable eco-friendly initiatives from autumn/winter 2025 collections. ? UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) Launches New Reuse & Recycling Membership Category The UKFT has launched a new membership category dedicated to supporting circularity within the industry. The Reuse and Recycling membership invites collectors, sorters, graders, mechanical recyclers, upcyclers and recycling innovators to join, offering tailored resources, strategic guidance and advocacy. Membership prices start at ￡465 per year for businesses with turnover up to ￡250,000. ? Vinted to Launch Second-hand Luxury Fashion Pop-up in London Pre-loved fashion marketplace Vinted is launching its first-ever second-hand luxury fashion pop-up in London on 22nd March at The Adria hotel in South Kensington. Called 'House of Vinted', the invitation-only event will allow Vinted members to explore themed rooms with curated wardrobes from international luxury style creators including Susie Lau and Victoria Magrath. ? New Zealand Master Electricians' Warning on the Right to Repair Bill Master Electricians has issued a warning regarding the Right to Repair Bill, which passed its first reading in New Zealand's Parliament last month. While supporting the bill's sustainability intentions to extend product lifespans and reduce waste, Chief Executive Alex Vranyac-Wheeler expressed serious safety concerns about electrical goods. ?? Links are in the comments ? Sign up to receive the weekly news in your inbox with our white paper

When Time Matters: Speed vs Quality in Modern Repair Services A recent white paper examines the critical balance between speed and quality in aftercare services as consumers increasingly embrace repair over replacement. Key Insights: ?Displacement Impact: A remarkable 82.2% of UK clothing repairs directly displace new purchases, highlighting that consumers who can't repair with your brand will repair and then likely purchase elsewhere. This represents a significant opportunity for brand retention through effective aftercare services. ?Strategic Categorisation: The paper recommends segmenting repair services into three tiers to meet varying customer needs: ?Standard Services (rapid turnaround) ?Complex Services (intermediate timeframes) ?Bespoke Services (extended timeframes) ?Operational Excellence: Successful aftercare requires robust foundations: ?Effective capacity planning with built-in flexibility ?Transparent communication frameworks ?Standardised workflows with quality controls ?Reliable supply chain management ?Customer Experience: Meeting expectations through: ?Clear service definitions aligned with brand values ?Consistent updates throughout the aftersales journey ?Educational content that builds appreciation for craftsmanship Companies effectively delivering aftercare services achieve 5.9% revenue growth, while those failing to do so see a 1.8% decline. This stark contrast demonstrates that brands must participate in the repair journey or risk losing customers to competitors who do. The paper concludes that as sustainability concerns drive more consumers toward repair options, brands that master the balance between craftsmanship and efficiency will transform aftercare from a cost centre into a valuable customer retention and engagement channel. ?? link in the comments to read more ? Sign up on our website to receive the weekly news in your inbox every week with our white paper

Circulo Weekly Roundup | 13th March 2025 A round-up of news in repair, sustainability & legalisation ? Textile-to-textile recyclers form new T2T Alliance Leading textile-to-textile recyclers Circ?, Circulose, RE&UP Recycling Technologies and Syre have formed the T2T Alliance to support Europe's circular economy policies, particularly the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. With less than 1 per cent of the textile fibre market currently coming from recycled textiles, the Alliance aims to provide expert input on ecodesign requirements, clarify misconceptions about the recycling industry, and advocate for verification methods to trace recycled materials. The group is open for other textile-to-textile recyclers to join. ? Survey: Half of Execs Report Higher Sales, Lower Costs from Sustainability Initiatives A new survey by ERM Sustainability Institute, Salesforce, GlobeScan, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) and SustainableIT.org found that business leaders are seeing significant benefits from sustainability activities. Over 60% reported improved employee attraction and retention, while half cited higher sales and lower costs. Enhanced brand reputation was the top benefit (74%), followed by stronger stakeholder relations (70%). However, only 37% of respondents said that sustainability is "very integrated" into their core business strategies. Finance and technology were identified as key functions for sustainability progress, though leaders in these areas reported low confidence in their sustainability skills. ? Re:Roam by Passenger X Reskinned launches circular repair initiative Outdoor clothing brand Passenger has partnered with circular fashion company Reskinned to launch Re:Roam, an initiative that gives damaged Passenger gear a second chance. The programme focuses on repairing unloved and damaged inventory from their warehouse and selling it to customers once repaired. ? Complaint filed against Copenhagen Fashion Week for greenwashing The Danish Consumer Council and anti-greenwashing specialist Tanja Gotthardsen have filed a formal complaint against Copenhagen Fashion Week and seven participating brands, accusing them of greenwashing. The complaint urges the Danish Consumer Authority to evaluate whether the fashion week's "Sustainability Requirements" can legally be marketed as such if they fail to drive meaningful sustainability progress or do not constitute genuine requirements. This comes as fashion events face increasing scrutiny over their environmental claims and standards. ?? Links are in the comments ? Sign up to receive the weekly news in your inbox with our white paper

The Circular Economy Playbook for Repair Services Our latest white paper explores how repair services maximise value through extended product lifecycles in the circular economy. Key insights: ? Repair services achieve an impressive 82.2% displacement rate, meaning over 4 in 5 repairs prevent new purchases ? Companies delivering proactive service solutions achieve 5.9% revenue growth compared to -1.8% for those who don't ? Repairing one cotton t-shirt instead of buying a new one saves over 7.5kg CO2e, equivalent to 25 hours of ironing The paper identifies two complementary business models: revenue-generating repair services and loyalty-driven aftercare programmes. Both approaches strengthen customer relationships while reducing environmental impact. Read our complete white paper to discover how your organisation can leverage repair services to deepen customer relationships, extend customer lifetime value, and generate valuable product insights while significantly reducing your environmental footprint. ?? link in the comments to read more ? Sign up on our website to receive the weekly news in your inbox every week with our white paper

Circulo Weekly Roundup | 6th March 2025 A round-up of news in repair, sustainability & legalisation ? WRAP Study: Repair Prevents 4 in 5 New Purchases A new WRAP report confirms repairing and buying secondhand prevents new purchases. After testing with companies like eBay, Depop and Finisterre, WRAP found that 82% of repairs prevent someone from buying new (that's 4 out of 5 repairs), while 65% of secondhand purchases replace buying new (that's 3 out of 5). In practical terms, when you repair a t-shirt instead of buying a new one, you save 7.5kg of carbon emissions - the same as running an iron for 25 hours. Buying secondhand jeans saves even more: 30kg of carbon, equivalent to making 600 cups of tea. This standardised way of measuring impact gives repair shops and resale platforms a reliable way to show their environmental benefits and helps consumers understand the value of choosing repair and secondhand options. ? EU Simplifies Sustainability Rules to Save Businesses €6.3 Billion The EU is simplifying its sustainability rules to help businesses save money. The changes will save companies an estimated €6.3 billion in administrative costs and free up about €50 billion for new investments. The biggest change is that smaller companies (those with under 1,000 employees) will no longer have to provide detailed sustainability reports. Only the largest 20% of companies will need to submit full reports. The EU is also giving companies an extra year to prepare for new supply chain responsibility rules and exempting small importers from carbon border fees. The EU says these changes maintain Green Deal climate goals while making rules more practical and affordable for businesses to follow. ? The Fashion Pact Members Cut Plastic Use and Boost Renewable Energy Major fashion brands are making progress on sustainability according to the latest Fashion Pact report. Launched in 2019 at the G7 summit, The Fashion Pact now includes 56 member companies representing about a third of the industry, including H&M Group, Inditex (Zara), adidas, Burberry, Gap, and Moncler. Their new report highlights a solar energy project that will add enough renewable electricity to power about 40,000 homes annually. They've also launched a program helping clothing factories in Bangladesh afford greener equipment and another supporting farmers growing more sustainable cotton. Among member companies, 92% have cut unnecessary plastic packaging (up from 83% last year), and 45% of materials now come from more sustainable sources (up from 39%). ?? Links are in the comments ? Sign up to receive the weekly news in your inbox with our white paper

Smart Resource Allocation in Aftercare Services Our latest white paper explores how digital solutions revolutionise repair management through smart resource allocation. Key insights: ?Top performers capture 50% of potential revenue benefits from digital investments vs. just 31% for other organisations ?Process automation can unlock 50% efficiency gains while reducing average call handling times by 44% ?90% of top performers implement centralised data strategies vs. just 3% of less mature organisations The research identifies three essential components for success: centralised repair platforms, automated data capture, and integrated communication tools. Read our complete white paper to discover how your organisation can transform operational efficiency and deliver exceptional repair experiences in an increasingly competitive market. ?? link in the comments to read more ? Sign up on our website to receive the weekly news in your inbox every week with our white paper

Circulo Weekly Roundup | 27th February 2025 A round-up of news in repair, sustainability & legalisation ? Global Fashion Agenda Agenda Addresses 'Barriers & Bridges' in Sustainability GFA highlights the increasingly blurred lines between voluntary and mandatory sustainability efforts in fashion. With regulations tightening in some regions and loosening in others, the organisation emphasises the need for unity and agility. A 2024 Bain & Company survey found that 75% of consumers consider sustainable lifestyles important. ? EU Countries Split on Delaying Green Reporting Rules The EU's largest economies are divided over sustainability reporting rules. Spain and Italy defend regulations that Germany and France want to be delayed. Spain urges Brussels not to weaken the due diligence law requiring companies to check human rights and environmental issues in supply chains from 2027. Italy supports the current CSRD timeline for larger companies but wants more time for smaller ones. Germany seeks a two-year CSRD delay while France requests an indefinite postponement of due diligence rules. ? EU Reaches Deal on New Rules to Reduce Textile and Food Waste Parliament and Council agreed on binding food waste reduction targets of 10% in manufacturing and 30% in retail and households by December 2030. For textiles, producer responsibility schemes must be established within 30 months, requiring producers to cover costs for collection, sorting and recycling of clothing, footwear, linens, and other textile products. Member states must address ultra-fast fashion practices when setting financial contributions to these schemes. ? European Commission to Release Omnibus Simplification Package The EU will release its Omnibus Simplification Package on 26th February, targeting the EU Taxonomy, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The package aims to reduce reporting requirements for businesses, particularly mid-cap companies while revising implementation timelines. The initiative responds to calls from EU leadership to decrease regulatory burden whilst maintaining core sustainability objectives. ? High Repair Costs Contributing to the Global E-Waste Crisis A Trojan Electronics Group report finds high repair costs prevent over half of consumers from fixing broken electronic devices, fuelling the e-waste crisis. Manufacturer restrictions on spare parts and authorised repair providers make repairs unaffordable for most consumers. Despite this, 14% of consumers always seek repairs due to environmental concerns, and 89% believe manufacturers should allow third-party repairs. E-waste remains the fastest-growing waste stream globally due to consumption patterns and limited repairability. ?? Links are in the comments ? Sign up to receive the weekly news in your inbox with our white paper

Crafting the Ultimate Repair Journey: A Customer-First Approach Our latest white paper explores how businesses can build profitable, technology-driven repair service programmes that boost customer loyalty and sustainability. Key insights include: ?75% of consumers actively consider repair services for retail products, and 56% have chosen repair over replacement in the past year. [The Sustainable Consumer, 2024 Deloitte] ?Two-thirds of consumers evaluate product repairability before making a purchase. [The Sustainable Consumer, 2024 Deloitte] ?Companies with proactive service solutions experience 5.9% revenue growth and double the purchase rate from customers who feel supported. [Accenture, 2024; Deloitte 2024 US retail industry outlook] Read the full white paper to discover how a well-executed repair service strategy can transform after sales cost centres into enhance customer LTV growth drivers. ?? link in the comments to read more ? Sign up on our website to receive the weekly news in your inbox every week with our white paper

Circulo Weekly Roundup | 20th February 2025 A round-up of news in repair, sustainability & legalisation ?ARKET launches partnership with SOJO? ARKET launches nationwide garment repair and alteration services in partnership with B-Corp certified SOJO, offering both online and in-store solutions at London locations. The service, launching 14th February with prices from ￡5, enables customers to extend garment lifespans through professional repairs, with door-to-door service nationwide and in-store drop-off options at Regent Street and Covent Garden stores. ?Global Fashion Agenda releases EPR Report? Global Fashion Agenda releases comprehensive mapping of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes worldwide, revealing varying stages of implementation across regions. The report highlights the EU's pioneering position in EPR legislation, with member states required to establish separate textile collection systems from January 2025, while other regions like Australia and Chile are developing voluntary schemes. ?Forbes Report: Fashion Industry Faces Repair Revolution A new Forbes analysis examines the growing demand for clothing repair services, highlighting initiatives from brands like Patagonia and the United Repair Centre. The report reveals 77% of Gen Z customers have mended their clothes in the last 18 months, signalling a shift towards circular fashion practices ahead of incoming EU regulations requiring brands to handle product end-of-life by 2026. ?Vogue Business: EU Regulations Reshape Fashion Industry Vogue Business outlines major regulatory changes affecting the fashion industry in 2025, focusing on new sustainability requirements and supply chain controls. The analysis examines upcoming deadlines and debates around digital product passports, highlighting how brands are adapting to stricter environmental standards. ?? Links are in the comments ? Sign up to receive the weekly news in your inbox with our white paper