Environmental and Social Responsibility in Textiles: The Circular Economy
Instead of the traditional “linear” economy (take, make, use and dispose), the industry is moving towards a more sustainable “circular” economy (reduce, reuse, recycle) – where resources remain in use for as long as possible, with the maximum value extracted from them. Only then, at the end of their useful lives, should the products and materials be recovered and regenerated for reuse.
Economic concept
We could describe the circular economy as an economic concept, inspired by industrial ecology where the waste from one industry is recycled as the raw material for another industry or for itself.
In nature, one organism’s waste becomes food for another. In industry, materials designed for use in the circular economy, can be either safely returned to the soil or reused as high-quality materials for new products[1].
When an object is reused, this also saves time, energy, and resources, and removes the need for waste disposal or recycling.
Design
One of the key aims of the circular economy, according to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, is to “design out waste and pollution”.
This means reconsidering the way products are created, the systems employed at each stage of creation and use, and what happens after products are discarded.
There is no single way to design a product or service which creates no waste or pollution. But by designing durable products which can be easily repaired or remanufactured, reused, or shared, businesses are creating new models which unlock opportunities for themselves and their customers.
New business models
The use of recycled fibres is one way to reduce waste – but this remains challenging when there are insufficient systems to recycle products on a commercial scale. We need to create industry-wide demand for recycled fibres to justify creating the system.
So, which comes first - the products or the system?!
Shirley®
With over 100 years’ experience, Shirley® have been testing textiles for their ecological credentials, long before sustainability became an industry focus. Over recent years, the spotlight on sustainability has meant that we have seen an increased focus in areas of testing that measure, not only the safety of a textile, but also its functionality and the effects of production processes on the environment. This is an area of testing that Shirley® proudly champion, providing an expert service through the OEKO-TEX® private label scheme.
[1] Buildings Like Trees, Cities Like Forests (2002)
By William McDonough & Michael Braungart