Globally, the textile sector has witnessed a shift towards sustainable practices driven by a number of factors. Across the textile value chain, stakeholders have become more aware of the impacts of their decisionmaking. Consumer buying behaviour ultimately dictates the decisions of brands and manufacturers and awareness among consumers and other stakeholders has prompted brands to increase transparency in their supply chains, with clear responsibility on manufacturers, suppliers and raw material providers to make sure their processes are environmentally and socially sustainable. It has now been widely accepted that Circular Economy or Circularity in the textile and apparel sector (circular apparel) can provide some of the solutions. Circular economy is an economic system where materials and energy circulate in loops and stay within the value chain, as opposed to a linear system of take-make-dispose. In a circular economy the concept of waste is eliminated, material value is reused, recycled, and repurposed.

This Factsheet provides an overview of CRB’s initiatives and activities in the field of Initiatives on Circular Apparel and the way forward.