Accelerating Circularity, together with a number of textile suppliers and retailers, has established a precise tonnage target for recycling textiles.
The organization promised to recycle 325 tons of discarded textiles, comprising 150 tons of cotton, 100 tons of polyester, and 75 tons of other fibers, along with its partners in the United States and Europe. Earlier this week, during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting, the official Commitment to Action was announced.
Among the partners taking part in the initiative are:
- Afirm Group
- Avery Dennison
- Bank & Vogue Ltd
- Draper Knitting Company
- Gap Inc.
- Giotex
- GR3N
- Lenzing Group
- Lululemon
- Nike
- Parkdale Mills
- Ralph Lauren
- Refiberd
- Renewcell
- Target
- TOMRA
- Unifi (maker of Repreve)
- WM
The partners want to map out the whole recycling ecosystem by identifying all the businesses that can turn used textiles into new fibers, including collectors, sorters, processors, recyclers, fiber producers, yarn spinners, fabric mills, and product manufacturers. To do this, they are building a thorough mapping tool for used textiles.
The program’s goal is to make recycling textiles from different sources—fabric mills, brands, retailers, and consumers—more efficient by figuring out the most effective and environmentally friendly ways to turn raw materials into new goods.
In addition, Accelerating Circularity will create training resources to assist companies and customers in properly disposing of and recycling textiles.
The committment began on September 23 and is expected to be finished by March 2026.
Current circular products and methods available in the US market
Accelerating Circularity was founded in 2019 and has since produced tangible outcomes from its partnerships. Among them are:
- constructing business plans in collaboration with Goodwill Industries to handle the substantial amounts of clothing it receives annually. A $1.2 million grant from the Walmart Foundation funds the initiative.
- Novel materials and completed goods are produced through the development and testing of circular textile systems. Finished t-shirts and denim skirts that are being offered by Target are among them.
- creating a brand of Wrangler denim jeans that Walmart will carry in the upcoming weeks.
Karla Magruder, president and creator of Accelerating Circularity, stated, “Our work, boosted by the Clinton Global Initiative, will help us make a difference by reducing waste and pollution and promoting sustainability worldwide.”
She said that the group is also extending an invitation to companies, groups, and people to collaborate with it in building a more sustainable future for textiles.
