Quantifying Circularity: co-developing design guidelines with textile recyclers, brands and impact assessment

In order to address the significant impact of textiles and apparel production on climate change, the development of circular solutions with and for the textile and apparel industry, in collaboration with industry, academics, and solution providing stakeholders is imperative.

The fast pace of innovation in the fibre-to-fibre recovery space is, however, a challenge for related industries. As is effective circular-design in real terms, with numerous highly complex decision-making stages that are different and specific to each apparel brand and retailer.

CTF in partnership with UAL FTTI will bring fully considered textile circularity to apparel brands through an innovative approach to research and collaborative design, that will inform the design of clothing that fibre-to-fibre recyclers can recycle.

Workshop processes will learn from apparel and uniform brands and the challenges they face, with complex global supply chains at every point of production and manufacture, and establish design and production solutions, supported by the UK's leading recycling charity, WRAP -- Textiles 2030\. A key aim will be to identify the environmental and economic benefits of choosing circular design methods, to help industry justify the necessary investment in changing current practices for the longer term.

UAL FTTI and partner HEIs convene all aspects of apparel and materials design, production, business and consumer practices, spanning materials engineering to anthropology. Foregrounded by specialist design methods, this transdisciplinary research and development expertise linked to wider industry expertise provided by WRAP and the Textiles 2030 Footprint Tool, will achieve significant change in design, and production methods, beyond the scope and timeline of the project.