21st- 25th October 2024
Ecotextile News
The purpose-led multimedia news platform for sustainability in the global fashion and textile industry.
??We’ve reached the end of yet another great week here at Ecotextile News! You can view all of this week’s stories over at https://www.ecotextile.com/news/ but for now sit back, relax and let us catch you up with our hand-picked selection of the most important stories of the week????
Monday
??We began the week with the news that the board of directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been dissolved by the government and an administrator appointed until new elections are held.
A notice from the Ministry of Commerce said that Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairman Anwar Hossain had been appointed administrator to hold a "free and fair election" within 120 days.
??We also discovered that Textile Exchange has expanded its suspension of Intertek Testing Services as an approved certification body for its Organic Content Standard (OCS).
The industry body suspended Intertek's Indian office as a certification body for OCS in August but has now widened this to include all of its textile standards.
Tuesday
??We began Tuesday with our unsurprisingly viral story of the week which reads that textile waste will have to be incinerated in Europe, rather than reused or recycled, if the European Union does not act to protect the crisis-hit textile recycling industry, according to two key bodies.
The EU has been urged to provide immediate financial and legislative support to the sector to avoid a ‘domino effect’ which could cause irreversible environmental damage and widespread bankruptcies.
??We also disclosed that retailer Primark and UK waste charity WRAP have announced a new three year partnership aimed at giving clothes a longer life.
The partners, who announced a joint project to establish an industry standard for fashion durability 18 months ago, hope to reduce textile waste.
Wednesday
??On Wednesday, we reported that fashion brands including H&M , Zara and Next are facing criticism from campaigners and trade unions over their lack of action to protect garment workers in Bangladesh.
They are being accused of failing to work with suppliers to have charges dropped against 40,000 garment workers following last year's protests over the level of the minimum wage.
??We also looked into Textile Exchange 's new Materials Benchmark which is billed as the largest peer-to-peer comparison initiative in the fashion, textile and apparel industry.
It tracks the uptake of fibres and raw materials from recognised sustainability programmes, as well as how companies are addressing areas like circularity, biodiversity, land, freshwater and forests.
Thursday
??On Thursday we revealed that the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has released its 2023/24 annual report in which it outlines its record grower participation and advancements in environmental stewardship over the last 12 months.
The latest figures show that planted acreage enrolled increased to 2.1 million acres, up 31% from the previous year, with enrolment up 35%, bringing the total number of growers participating in the scheme to 1,327.
??We also broke the news that Swiss textile innovator HeiQ has announced that it will delist from the London Stock Exchange due to market challenges, with effect from 19th November, and also says that it’s open to offers for some of its business segments.
The HeiQ board unanimously agreed on the decision due to a “historically low valuation” that limits its ability to secure financing and complicates funding plans for venture platforms.
Friday
??Exclusive- get the news before it breaks??
??Today we reveal that German viscose manufacturer Kelheim Fibres, which supplies wood-based fibres described as an ‘environmentally friendly option for sustainable textiles’, has filed for insolvency.
??We will also be reporting on a story which details that two-thirds of US shoppers are prepared to pay more for well-made apparel and footwear, according to a YouGov survey of attitudes towards sustainable fashion shopping.
For our Friday news stories make sure to visit https://www.ecotextile.com/news/ and watch them release in real-time.
??That’s a wrap for this week’s Briefing! Don’t forget to subscribe if you enjoyed it so that you don’t miss a week!??