#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: reporting companies advance on preferred materials as global fiber production reaches new high

Companies participating in Textile Exchange’s Materials Benchmark increased their use of materials from preferred production systems in 2025, while global fiber production continued to grow and reached a record 139 million tonnes. The contrasting trends highlight both the potential for change at company level and the scale of the challenge facing the wider textile industry.

Action Cohort: Textile Exchange’s new initiative designed to help scale preferred production systems

Textile Exchange has published new guidance to help brands and retailers participating in its Action Cohort prepare for upcoming reporting and target-setting requirements. Earlier this year, the organization evolved its membership to create more action-oriented pathways, designed to accelerate progress toward scaling preferred production systems that create beneficial impacts and resilient supply chains and livelihoods.

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.

NEUMÜHLE launches mono-material hoodie designed for textile recycling

With the Circular Mono Hoodie, Zurich-based label NEUMÜHLE introduces a new essential designed around a single-material principle. The textile construction is cotton throughout, right down to the sewing thread. Entirely free from elastane, the hoodie launches as a Limited Drop for CHF 139. Take-back, collection and existing recycling partnerships complement its circular design.

EIM evolves into a new Environmental Intelligence to measure the impact of textile production

¿Do we really know the environmental impact behind a garment? Answering this question remains one of the textile industry’s major challenges. Garment production involves multiple stages, from yarn and fabric to final finishing, carried out by different players across the supply chain. Accesing reliable data from each process, connecting it and establishing a common language are essential to understanding a product’s true impact.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

MK SONS Denim Research to make its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam

MK SONS Denim Research, a specialist denim development and manufacturing division of Pakistan-based textile and garment manufacturer MK SONS, will make its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam on October 14–15, 2026. The company will present its approach to integrating denim product development with industrial manufacturing at stand T in the Green Area.

Syre appoints Tim King as CEO

Syre has appointed Tim King as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dennis Nobelius, who has decided to leave the company after more than three years as CEO to pursue new opportunities in another industry. King, who has been with Syre since its early days, has been responsible for the company's industrial development and the execution of its strategy.