#Sustainability

2026-01-29

Apparel Impact Institute announces strategic realignment of climate solutions portfolio to accelerate decarbonization

Today, Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) announced the strategic realignment of its Climate Solutions Portfolio (CSP) grant program to prioritize funding for projects that accelerate supplier-focused electrification.

First introduced in 2023, Climate Solutions Portfolio grants fund scalable fashion decarbonization solutions, with individual awards of up to $250,000 per project. The grant program has been realigned to focus on projects accelerating the electrification of Tier 2 factories in the apparel sector. This targeted approach will sharpen the fund’s impact and accelerate progress on one of the industry’s most urgent sustainability challenges: supplier decarbonization.

Key CSP Grant Program enhancements

Supplier-Focused Applications: The program will shift to a supplier-led application process, ensuring proposed technologies are pilot-ready with engaged supplier partners.

Stronger Industry Engagement: In collaboration with lead funders and global partners, Aii will communicate funding opportunities to build a robust pipeline of suppliers ready to test and adopt proven and promising solutions.

Streamlined Application and Review: A simplified application and scoring system and standardized guidelines enhance the application process.

“Refocusing the CSP Grant Program to align with a core industry challenge helps ensure that every grant moves us closer to supporting the sector’s transition to electrification,” said Pauline Op de Beeck, Aii climate portfolio director. “This evolution strengthens the program’s ability to identify, test, and scale the most promising solutions in partnership with suppliers.”

The realigned CSP program will continue piloting innovative decarbonization technologies, creating a pipeline of solutions for Aii’s Deployment Gap Grant (DGG) program. With $1.25 million available in grant funding, the DGG accelerates the deployment of vetted solutions by leveraging brand co-funding across shared suppliers.

Applications for 2026 CSP Grants will be open April 1 - May 15 and October 1 - November 13. Applications for 2026 Deployment Gap Grants will be open February 2 - March 13 and July 1 - August 1.

https://apparelimpact.org

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.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.