30th September- 4th October 2024

We’re back with another Weekly Briefing, the one-stop-shop for getting you caught up with the week's top news stories in just a few minutes. You can find all of our stories over at https://www.ecotextile.com/news/ but for now, let us guide you through the most important????

Monday

??We began the week with the news that Zara owner Inditex集团 halted pre-sourcing negotiations last week with Turkish manufacturer Akcanlar Tekstil over worker rights violations, including the firing of 90 workers.

This follows pressure from the United Textile Weaving and Leather Workers’ Union (Birtek Sen), which now expects other international brands sourcing from the supplier to take similar action.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024093032526/social-compliance-csr-news/inditex-halts-sourcing-over-turkish-worker-rights.html

?????We also released a new podcast episode where the lawyer at the heart of a legal bid to block a potential public listing in London by ultra-fast fashion giant SHEIN discusses the case with our host Philip Berman in an exclusive interview.

Ricardo Gama, a senior associate solicitor with law firm Leigh Day , is representing the Stop Uyghur Genocide charity in the case which centres on alleged forced labour risks in the Chinese-owned company’s supply chain.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or directly on our site here????

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024091832491/social-compliance-csr-news/podcast-the-case-against-shein-s-uk-listing.html?

Tuesday

??On Tuesday we released a feature from Phil Patterson who delves into the intricacies concerning electrification of machinery and boilers used in the textile supply chains, arguing that it only makes sense from a CO2 emissions perspective when there is easy access to nuclear or renewable electricity.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024100132532/features/why-textile-manufacturing-electrification-needs-more-thought.html?

??We also brought the alarming news that a garment worker has been shot dead and at least 20 more injured in continuing violent protests over pay and working conditions in Bangladesh.

Unrest at garment factories has become an ongoing feature in Bangladesh since national protests toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government at the start of August.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024100132531/social-compliance-csr-news/garment-worker-shot-dead-in-bangladesh-unrest.html

Wednesday

??On Wednesday, we reported that Burberry has become the first luxury brand to release a product made with Japanese biotechnology company Spiber Inc. 's plant-based Brewed Protein fibres.

Brewed Protein is made from biomass, such as sugar cane and farm waste, using a proprietary fermentation process to produce polymers that can be transformed into textiles.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024100232541/fashion-retail-news/new-burberry-scarf-made-with-brewed-protein.html?

??We also revealed that Danish fashion company BESTSELLER says its 'Only' brand has more than doubled its sourcing of organic cotton sourced from African farmers via the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) programme since last year.

Only sourced almost 3,400 tonnes of African organic cotton over the last 12 months with all of it verified organic by CmiA, an initiative of the German Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF).

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024100232543/fashion-retail-news/bestseller-brand-ups-sourcing-of-cmia-cotton.html?

Thursday

??Yesterday we reported that textile recycling company Reju , which uses technology developed by IBM to recycle post consumer textiles into virgin quality polyester, has opened its first demo plant and revealed plans for two scale facilities by 2027.

Reju's 1,000 tonne per year demo plant in Frankfurt, Germany - called Regeneration Hub Zero - makes use of IBM's proprietary VolCat process, and is expected to begin deliveries to brands next year.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024100332545/materials-production-news/reju-opens-its-first-polyester-recycling-plant.html?

??We also delivered the news that the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has revised its membership structure for brands and retailers in bid to boost responsible sourcing and deliver greater value to its members.

Updating the previous revenue-based system, the new system, which will be implemented in 2025, will instead be based on the level of cotton consumption.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024100232542/labels-legislation-news/cotton-trust-protocol-revises-membership-structure.html?

Friday

??Exclusive- get the news before it breaks??

??Today we reveal that Primark launches Durability Framework initiative designed to tackle a major gap in fashion: making clothes last longer without luxury price tags.

??Finally, we deliver the news that Better Cotton has revealed that its brand members will be able to make product-based claims for the first time from the third quarter of next year.

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 on this Weekly Briefing! Don’t forget to check out our latest viral podcast episode????

https://www.ecotextile.com/2024091832491/social-compliance-csr-news/podcast-the-case-against-shein-s-uk-listing.html