Leading fashion players implement circular systems in Bangladesh

12 March 2021: Global Fashion Agenda has released the list of participants of the Circular Fashion Partnership which includes many leading global brands, Textile manufactures and Recyclers. The Circular Fashion Partnership is a cross-sectorial project led by Global Fashion Agenda, with partners Reverse Resources, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and P4G. The project aims to achieve a long-term, scalable transition to a circular fashion system.

The business model and project learnings will be presented at the end of 2021 in a ‘Circularity Playbook for Bangladesh’, which will be used as a guide to replicate the partnership in other countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

A Circular Fashion System keeps materials in the fashion value cycle by enabling the recycling and reuse of ‘waste’ textiles at scale. This system must replace the traditionally linear model of ‘take, make, dispose’ for a thriving industry that brings prosperity to people and restores our planet.

The Global Fashion Agenda’s initiative is focusing on Bangladesh as it arguably possesses the most in-demand and recyclable waste of any garment producing country, but the majority of its waste is currently being exported and/or downcycled. Therefore, there is a substantial opportunity to make it a leader in circularity by scaling the recycling capacity in the country and generating more value from these waste streams. Following the hardships in the country generated by COVID-19, this approach also aims build industry resilience for the future.

Global brands include: BERSHKA, BESTSELLER, C&A, GINA TRICOT, GREY STATE, H&M GROUP, KMART AUSTRALIA, MARKS & SPENCER, OVS, PULL & BEAR, PEAK PERFORMANCE and TARGET AUSTRALIA.

Manufacturers participants include: Amantex, Asrotex Group, Auko-tex Group, Aurum Sweaters, Beximco, Bitopi Group (Tarasima), Composite Knitting Industry Ltd., Crystal International Group Limited, Echotex, , Fakir Knitwear, GSM, J.M. Fabrics, Knit Asia, MAS Intimates, Ratul Group (Knitwear & Fabric), Salek Textiles, S. B Knite Composite (Sankura Dyeing and Garments) and the Northern Group

And, Recyclers are: Birla Cellulose, BlockTexx, Cyclo, Infinited Fiber Co., Malek Spinning Mills, Marchi & Fildi Spa, Lenzing AG, Recovertex, Renewcell, Saraz Fibre Tech, Usha Yarns Limited and Worn Again Technologies

Morten Lehmann, Cso, Global Fashion Agenda, said “To establish a circular fashion system we need to reimagine the production process so that it appreciates the value of textile waste.”