#Sustainability

2024-04-18

Textile Exchange releases "The Future of Synthetics" report

In a new report released by Textile Exchange, titled "The Future of Synthetics," the fashion, apparel, and textile industry are called upon to swiftly transition away from new fossil fuel extraction for synthetic materials. The report provides essential guidance for brands seeking to make this critical shift.

Recognizing the urgent need to curb greenhouse gas emissions associated with synthetic fibers, Textile Exchange's "The Future of Synthetics" stresses the necessity for the industry to halt the introduction of new virgin fossil fuel-derived materials into the supply chain. This strategic move is deemed indispensable to meeting climate targets and mitigating environmental impact.

"At the heart of this report is the advocacy for accelerated interest and investment in technologies facilitating the rapid substitution of fossil fuel-derived synthetics," remarked a spokesperson for Textile Exchange on its website. "By making viable alternatives readily available, the industry can realistically divest, thereby unlocking significant emissions reduction potential."

"With this report, we are advocating for increased interest and investment into the technologies that will facilitate the rapid substitution of fossil fuel-derived synthetics," a spokesperson for Textile Exchange remarked on its website. "A core recognition is that having viable alternatives available will enable the industry to realistically divest, unlocking this critical emissions reduction opportunity."

The report delves into various technologies and infrastructure pivotal to this transition, including textile-to-textile recycling, biosynthetics, and carbon capture. It highlights the dominance of synthetic materials in global fiber production, with polyester alone contributing a staggering amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

While emphasizing the importance of transitioning towards sustainable alternatives, the report also acknowledges the need to balance this shift with considerations for natural ecosystems. It advocates for a dual approach: investing in alternative methods of creating synthetic materials while simultaneously reducing the overall volume of new materials produced.

Mechanical recycling of PET plastic bottles currently stands as the most prevalent alternative to virgin polyester. However, the industry is urged to prioritize scaling textile-to-textile recycling technologies to establish a truly closed-loop system. Additionally, the report explores emerging opportunities in biosynthetics and carbon capture technologies, underscoring their potential to facilitate divestment from fossil fuel extraction.

For access to the full report and key takeaways, please visit :

http://textileexchange.org/app/uploads/2024/04/The-Future-of-Synthetics.pdf

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

Updated supply chain taxonomy advances apparel alignment

The apparel alliance (Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC Foundation) today announced the launch of Version 2 of the Supply Chain Taxonomy, an updated harmonized framework designed to improve consistency, transparency, and collaboration across the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear (TCLF) sectors of the broader apparel industry.

Textile Exchange unveils agenda for 2026 conference in Vancouver

Textile Exchange has released the agenda for its 2026 Conference, which will take place from October 12–16 in Vancouver, Canada. Under the theme “The Implementation Era,” the event will focus on translating sustainability commitments into practical action and scaling solutions across businesses, supply systems, and landscapes.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.