Latest news with #circularfashion
Fast Company
04-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Stella McCartney's new plant-based sneakers can be composted
If you pick up a pair of the newest sneakers from Stella McCartney, you might notice something unusual: The soles smell like cinnamon. That's because they're dyed with cinnamon waste rather than synthetic coloring—one of the ways the soles were designed to be as sustainable as possible. They're also made from other plant-based components like castor beans. When the sneakers wear out, the soles can either be composted or recycled. For the brand, the sole was the missing piece in making a circular product. A previous version of the sneaker, which came out in 2022, used materials like grape-based leather in the shoe's upper and recycled TPU—a type of plastic—in the sole. But that wasn't a complete solution. The fossil-fuel-based plastics in typical soles, like TPU or EVA, have multiple sustainability challenges. They're energy-intensive to produce, and rarely recycled. When they end up in a landfill, the material can last hundreds of years. Even if a particular shoe uses recycled material, it can break down and create microplastic pollution when you walk or run. To find an alternative, Stella McCartney's team partnered with Balena, a materials science startup focused on biopolymers. 'The real hurdle was how to match the durability and flexibility of traditional fossil-based plastics . . . using a bio-based material that could also break down at end of life,' says Yael Vantu, head of product at Balena, which is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Milan. 'That balance of true compostability without sacrificing performance simply hadn't been cracked yet. Most biodegradable materials on the market just aren't built to handle the stress, abrasion, and longevity needed in a sneaker sole. That's where our material came in.' The startup engineered a new product, called BioCir Flex, designed to have the same comfort and resilience as conventional plastic, but with the ability to either be composted in an industrial facility or recycled. 'Essentially, we created a material that behaves like plastic when you need it, and like nature when you're done with it,' Vantu says. Balena had already started working on the material before the partnership with Stella McCartney, but then spent two years working with the designer label to go through multiple rounds of development, from lab tests to real-world production runs. The white version of the new sneaker, the $550 S-Wave, uses a mix of hemp and agricultural waste from the pineapple industry in the shoe's upper. When the shoe wears out, it can be sent back to Stella McCartney. The company will then separate the components. While the soles can be composted, the brand priority is to recycle the material into new soles, so it can avoid the environmental footprint of making the material again from scratch. The material is still more expensive than standard TPU, both because bio-based manufacturing and circular supply chains are still maturing. Some brands, like Stella McCartney, are willing to foot the higher bill. 'They see the value in future-proofing against regulations, reducing environmental risks, and building deeper connections with consumers who expect products to truly align with their values,' Vantu says. In theory, the material could scale up to be widely used in the industry. 'Now it's about building out robust supply chains and end-of-life systems and having brands prioritize circularity not just for capsule collections, but across their main lines,' Vantu says. 'Regulatory momentum and growing consumer expectations are definitely accelerating that shift.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Earth Summit highlights regenerative wool's climate potential
The discussion titled 'Circular by Nature – Rethinking Innovation in Natural Fibres' was held at the London Climate Action Week. It centred on the tangible benefits of wool, supported by evidence-based land management practices, innovative product development, and circular design principles. The panel, moderated by Amy Nguyen, featured participants including Clare Cannon, a Merino woolgrower from 'Woomargama Station' in Australia; Chris Gaffney, CEO of Johnsons of Elgin; Amy Powney, creative director and founder at AKYN; and Elisabeth van Delden, sustainability manager for Europe at Woolmark. The panellists emphasised the need for increased cooperation across the sector and promoted regenerative wool as a beneficial solution for the environment. Central to this conversation was the Woolmark+ roadmap, which outlines a strategy for incorporating wool into sustainable fashion models. This framework focuses on enhancing nature-positive production, establishing wool as a preferred circular fibre, and fostering prosperous rural communities. Australian woolgrower Clare Cannon provided insights into the positive ecological effects of regenerative grazing on her farm, including the resurgence of endangered bird species and native vegetation. 'Our expertise isn't theoretical; it's grounded in day-to-day realities. We have implemented practical strategies for preserving biodiversity, improving soil health, and reducing emissions as we journey towards nature positive. These are not buzzwords for us but part of our innate identity as stewards of the land,' Cannon stated. Gaffney discussed how continuous innovation is essential for maintaining the longevity of brands. 'You don't become a heritage brand without constantly innovating,' he said. van Delden highlighted current global carbon accounting methods prioritise carbon emissions and neglect factors such as water management, biodiversity and soil health. 'Woolmark+ helps bridge the gap between real on-farm outcomes and the growing demand from brands and investors for measurable impact. Whether it's decarbonisation, biodiversity uplift, or material circularity - the roadmap offers a science-led, scalable way to integrate wool into strategies focused on risk reduction, resilience, and long-term value creation,' she said. In November 2024, the Australian Government allocated A$4m ($2.6m) to support Woolmark's new Australian Wool Industry Insetting Programme, which is designed to lower emissions within the textile supply chain. "Blue Earth Summit highlights regenerative wool's climate potential" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lululemon, Samsara Eco Deepen Partnership For Recycled Materials, Targets Circularity by 2030
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is one of the best Canadian stocks with huge upside potential. On June 11, Lululemon announced an expanded 10-year partnership with Samsara Eco through an off-take agreement for recycled nylon and polyester. The collaboration underscores Lululemon's commitment to building a circular ecosystem for its products and supports its goal of using more preferred materials by 2030. The deal could enable Samsara Eco to produce ~20% of the fibers in Lululemon's portfolio. The announcement builds upon a previous multi-year agreement between Lululemon and Samsara Eco, which was initiated in 2023 and aimed at creating infinitely recycled nylon and polyester. In 2024, Lululemon debuted its first product featuring Samsara Eco's material. This was a limited-edition packable anorak, which also marked the world's first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product sample. A store employee in an athletic apparel store restocking merchandise. The Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lululemon, Ted Dagnese, stated that the company is diversifying by investing in multiple partnerships to develop solutions and reduce its reliance on fossil-fuel-derived resources. Lululemon's latest impact report indicates progress in integrating preferred materials, with 38% of products procured in 2023 containing over 50% of materials deemed environmentally preferable by the company. Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) designs, distributes, and retails technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories under the lululemon brand internationally. Samsara Eco is an Australia-based company that specializes in enzymatically recycling nylon 6,6 products. While we acknowledge the potential of LULU as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
H&M Foundation-backed Circularity Initiative Expands in India
In 2021, a small pilot project called Saamuhika Shakti launched in Bengaluru, India, with the goal of reducing the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills while also empowering workers handling that waste. Since then, the initiative has grown exponentially, and now it's being replicated and implemented in 12 additional Indian cities. Funded by the H&M Foundation, Saamuhika Shakti employs informal waste workers to collect and sort discarded clothing in 16 neighborhood sorting centers that feed diverted garments to a central textile recovery facility. Developed by the Circular Apparel Innovation Factory and implemented by waste picker advocacy organization Hasiru Dala, the project aims to divert 800,000 kilograms of post-consumer textile waste and support 500 waste picker livelihoods by 2026. More from Sourcing Journal Walmart Plans to Bring 100K New Indian Small Businesses Online Iskur Denim Joins Denim Deal Circulose and Mango Team Up to Scale Circular Cellulose So far, Saamuhika Shakti has achieved 55 percent of its waste diversion target and supported more than 400 waste pickers. Part of that success lies in the collaborative design of the project, where municipal authorities, NGOs and waste picker collectives jointly set the terms, ensuring shared ownership and long-term viability. 'What makes this model so powerful is that it's not a top-down solution—it has been co-created with waste pickers, who know the problem best,' said Maria Bystedt, program director at H&M Foundation. 'It proves that circularity isn't just about materials or recycling tech—it's about how we design systems that are inclusive, effective and climate-resilient.' Textile waste is a huge problem in India. The country accounts for 8.5 percent of global textile waste or 7793 ktons, according to Fashion for Good. That waste can be broken into three categories: domestic post-consumer (51 percent), pre-consumer (42 percent) and imported post-consumer (7 percent). According to Hasiru Dala, India's waste management is made up of two primary systems—formal and informal. The informal system is completely managed by waste pickers, waste sorters and waste traders, who comb landfills and other waste collection facilities for recyclable materials. Waste pickers often are women and children, and particularly in landfills, they work in extremely difficult conditions due to the elements and risk of contamination from garbage and make very little money. Saamuhika Shakti aims to change that by empowering those waste pickers to improve their working conditions while also raising their profile as essential components of a circular economy. The Saamuhika Shakti project has received more than $20 million in funding from the H&M Foundation in two phases. Along with the foundation, the Circular Apparel Innovation Factory and Hasiru Dala, the initiative has received additional support from Bal Raksha Bharat, BBC Media Action, Sambhav Foundation, Sattva Consulting, Social Alpha, Sparsha Trust, Udhyam Learning Foundation and WaterAid India. Bystedt said that the key to Saamuhika Shakti's success lies in the workers who've been given agency through the project to improve their work conditions and economic standing. 'We're seeing that when waste pickers are recognized as essential climate actors, cities can build solutions that scale and inspire new models of inclusive circularity globally,' she said.
Reuters
24-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Swedish textile recycler Syre to partner with Gap, Target as demand for sustainable clothing grows
STOCKHOLM, June 24 (Reuters) - H&M ( opens new tab-backed textile recycling firm Syre will provide recycled polyester to U.S. retailers Gap (GAP.N), opens new tab and Target (TGT.N), opens new tab, it said on Tuesday, as demand for sustainable fashion grows. Several startups are developing technologies to recycle discarded clothes into new textiles amid increasing consumer demand, and with retailers keen to burnish their sustainability credentials and meet tougher regulations. Syre, which was co-founded by fast-fashion retailer H&M and investment group Vargas, plans to produce more than 3 million metric tons of polyester in 2032 by recycling used garments. It entered a long term agreement with H&M last year worth a total of $600 million over seven years. Gap wanted to utilise 10,000 tons per year of its polyester chip, while Target would incorporate recycled polyester into a "selection" of the company's products, Syre said in a statement. "We will co-develop circular polyester together and it will lead to a commercial agreement over time," Syre CEO Dennis Nobelius told Reuters. He did not disclose the potential monetary value of any agreement or a timeframe. Syre produces a polyester chip which then needs to be spun into a thread by its partner companies. "This partnership enables us to accelerate our progress toward realizing a more circular fashion industry," Gap's Vice President of Global Sustainability Dan Fibiger said in the joint statement. Last year, Syre raised $100 million in a funding round to build a "blueprint" factory in the U.S. state of North Carolina and prepare for two more plants, including one in Vietnam. The U.S. factory is expected to have a capacity of up to 10,000 tons of recycled polyester annually and become operational during 2026, while Syre aims to start construction on the Vietnam plant in 2027 to produce between 150,000 and 250,000 tons polyester, Nobelius said. Sweden-based sportswear company Houdini has also committed to source 50% of its polyester from Syre for a three-year period, Syre said.
