UK
An in-depth report from PCIAW and Business in the Community (BITC) could radically alter the way we make, use and dispose of our textiles and bring about transformational change to benefit the environment, says the association as the report publishes. For linen rental businesses procuring and processing workwear and PPE the report makes essential reading.

The UK workwear, PPE and corporate wear market is worth £8.6 billion, globally $56.3 billion, however, after aviation, the textiles industry is the second biggest polluter globally.

The report from PCIAW and BITC aims to make positive steps towards tangible change and reviews the principles and practices of circularity in textiles for workwear, including PPE and corporatewear** and serves as a guide for the government-backed Textiles 2030 initiative, which aims to massively cut textile waste.  

The 70 page industry report is aimed at manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and designers.

  • It looks at the environmental implications of current textile wastage
  • reviews current principles, on-going research and practices in the textile industry that should lead to an increase in corporate environmental responsibility
  • focuses on the present facilities available for recycling technologies and renewable energy.  
  • details best practice in the disposal of textiles
  • examines how circularity can be designed-in to the whole process of making, using and re-using textiles.

 The report looks at the environmental implications of current textile wastage, alongside ongoing research and cutting-edge practices that should lead to an increase in corporate environmental responsibility in future years. It aims to educate manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and designers in the principles and practices of circularity in textiles for workwear, including PPE and corporate wear.

The report says that the textile industry must foreground resource efficiency, end-of-life recyclability and sustainable development from renewable natural materials and it calls for immediate action to reduce further damage to the planet.

Yvette Ashby, CEO of PCIAW commented: “We are proud to share this extensive, first of its kind report, which educates the industry on the current and emerging textile recycling technologies, complete with case studies from world leading professional clothing companies and universities.

We hope that the textiles industry takes the necessary steps to accelerate a circular textile economy once and for all."

The report is available to download from www.pciaw.org

• Read more on this in the July/August issue when LCNi will be looking in-depth at workwear and PPE.

** UK PPE Market Worth 2020/21 = £8.6 billion, Global Market $56.3 billion