Global Circular Fashion Forum Updates – Global Fashion Agenda

The garment industry in Bangladesh has recently encountered a series of profound challenges, primarily stemming from ongoing political unrest and infrastructural issues. These obstacles have affected various operations within the industry, yet manufacturers associated with the Switch to Upstream Circularity Pilot and the Circular Fashion Partnership: Bangladesh partners including Bestseller, H&M, Teddy, OVS, Primark, and United Colors of Benetton, have continuously demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment to sustainability. Noteworthy achievements include:

– Active Participation: A total of 26 facilities have actively engaged in the Circular Fashion Partnership, successfully registering their waste inventories and shipments on the Reverse Resource Platform. This involvement highlights their dedication to improving waste management practices.

– Waste Segregation: Since 2022, these facilities have segregated over 8,500 tonnes of post-industrial textile waste, effectively documenting this material in a systematic manner. Importantly, more than 3,700 tonnes of this waste has been digitally traced to textile-to-textile recyclers, indicating a proactive approach towards circularity and resource recovery.

– Increased Data Collection: The training on waste segregation provided by Reverse Resources has empowered these facilities to share detailed data about their waste composition on a regular basis. This collaborative effort enhances the understanding of waste characteristics and sets the stage for further advancements in recycling processes.

– Increased Transparency: In recent months, there has been a marked improvement in transparency regarding waste disposal methods. This change has provided valuable insights into how waste is currently utilised within suppliers’ facilities, enabling stakeholders to better understand and optimise waste management practices.

Overall, despite the challenging environment, these achievements reflect a commitment to sustainability and a forward-thinking approach in the Bangladeshi garment sector.

The Global Circular Fashion Forum will host their Annual Exchange on Upstream Circularity on Wednesday 11th December 2024, from 9:30am – 12:00pm CET. 

We invite all stakeholders involved in the circular value chain, as well as those interested in learning more to register here.