Fabric Loop plans Circular Economy Goals for 2035

(CONNECT) The Fabric Loop association and its members have committed to a long-term, transparent program aimed at achieving the goals of a circular economy for textiles. According to a statement, these aims are all designed to lay the foundations for a systemic shift, building on the industry-wide textile collection solution introduced by Swiss Textiles and other textile companies.

The ultimate aim is reportedly to achieve both consistent transparency in material and financial flows as well as to transition to a circular economy. Specifically, the system overhaul sets out four goals designed to support an ecologically and economically sound approach to textiles.

Firstly, 100 per cent of used textiles will in future be collected and sorted in Switzerland. Thanks to local proximity, the reuse rate is expected to increase from the current one per cent to 10 to 15 per cent by 2035. With the second goal, Fabric Loop aims to focus on material recovery: 60 per cent of items suitable for reuse will be divided into 30 per cent reuse, 20 per cent recycling, and 10 per cent open-loop recycling, with an emphasis on fiber-to-fiber recycling. The third goal prioritizes transparency. The aim here is not only to clarify where textiles end up but also, where possible, to achieve a zero waste to landfill rate. Lastly, Fabric Loop has announced that it will publish a transparency report once a year.

“We are aware that these goals are ambitious. They demonstrate our commitment to systemic change and direct our objectives,” Simone Alabor, CEO of Fabric Loop, is quoted as saying. “We would rather set ambitious goals and achieve only 80 per cent of them than scale back our ambitions.”

Fabric Loop is supported by numerous organizations, including the two associations Swiss Textiles and Swiss Recycle. Nina Bachmann, president of Fabric Loop and a member of the executive board of Swiss Textiles, believes the time has come “for the industry to take charge of closing the fabric loop”. ce/ww