10th-14th June 2024
Ecotextile News
The purpose-led multimedia news platform for sustainability in the global fashion and textile industry.
Here’s this week's briefing- the 3 minute read that gets you caught up with the week’s most important textile sustainability news. You can read all of this week’s articles by visiting https://www.ecotextile.com/news/ but for now sit back and let us guide you through the key takeaways from the past week at Ecotextile News????
Monday
??On Monday, it was announced that the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is undergoing a public consultation to update its labour-related standards.
The three standards under review – ‘Labour/Management Relations’, ‘Employment’ and ‘Market Presence’, monitor how well organisations such as textile and garment manufacturers ensure decent working conditions and fully disclose their impacts on workers.
??We also reported that sporting goods retailer Decathlon has partnered with US materials science firm YULEX on a neoprene alternative wetsuit based on 100% certified, natural rubber.
Although Decathlon reports that alternatives to neoprene, which is 100% synthetic, do exist on the market, such as wetsuits made from 85% natural rubber and 15% synthetic rubber, the new Yulex100 is said to be the only wetsuit sourced with materials entirely from PEFC or FSC certified forests.
Tuesday
??ECOTEXTILE NEWS VIDEO EXCLUSIVE??
??On Tuesday we released a new video reflecting on a 2023 University of Leeds study into the durability of garments ranging in retail price from a few pounds to almost ￡100. Dr Mark Sumner , who played a central role in conducting the research, is keen that lessons are learned regarding the drivers of ‘fast fashion’ consumption behaviours.
Watch the full video here????
??We also disclosed on Tuesday that companies sourcing from countries and regions where human rights are under extreme pressure are being offered guidance in a new report from the Joint Ethical Trading Initiatives.
Entitled 'Human rights due diligence in challenging contexts', case studies include fashion retailer Primark's decision to withdraw from Myanmar following the military coup.
Wednesday
??On Wednesday we revealed that US senator Mark Rubio, one of the fiercest critics of Chinese-owned ultra fast fashion giant Shein, has written to UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP warning against allowing the company to list on the London Stock Exchange .
Shein is widely reported to be preparing a ￡50 billion ($64bn) flotation in London after its initial plans for an initial public offering in New York faced opposition in the US.
??We also announced that manufacturer Selenis Specialty Polyester Solutions says it has successfully produced recycled PET chips from terephthalic acid from textile recycling specialist Circ.
Made from polycotton textile waste, the high-quality PET chip has been transformed into drawn textured yarn and will serve as a key step towards an offtake agreement between the two companies.
Thursday
??Yesterday, we released the news that global brands BESTSELLER , Gap , H&M and MANGO are backing a new initiative which aims to help apparel suppliers decarbonise their facilities in Bangladesh.
The Future Supplier Initiative, launched by The Fashion Pact in partnership with the Apparel Impact Institute , consultants Guidehouse and the 星展银行 , offers financial incentives, such as de-risking loans, and technical support.
??In less celebratory news, we also revealed that an Italian subsidiary of French luxury giant 酩悦·轩尼诗-路易·威登集团 has been put under court administration over allegations it sub-contracted work to Chinese-owned firms which mistreated workers.
The Milan court ordered manufacturer Dior, which is fully owned by Christian Dior Italia and makes Dior-branded handbags, to be placed under judicial administration for one year.
Friday
??Today, we disclosed that an international coalition of farmers has written an open letter to the European Union raising fears its proposed PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) tool will favour synthetic fibres at the expense of 'natural' alternatives such as cotton and wool.
The letter has more than 600 signatories, representing farmers in Mongolia, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the UK and the USA, including The Sourcery , representing 250,000 cotton growers in India, and the GOBI Cashmere Corporation which represents 189,00 herders.
??We closed the week off by celebrating the news that Achema , the trade show which describes itself as a ‘world forum for the process industries’, has selected textile recycling firm re.solution as the winner of its ‘Start-up Award 2024’.
Based in Aachen, Germany, Re.solution has developed technology that recycles polyester textiles using a chemical process that also uses renewable energy and boasts low water and chemical consumption.
??We hope you’ve enjoyed this week's briefing, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a week!??