Must Reads: Sustainability Reports
In contrast to the numerous challenges that came with the pandemic, shelter in place orders have given us the unexpected benefit of more time to slow down and read.
A number of recent reports have come out on sustainability topics, including new data on changes in consumer behavior and companies’ environmental progress. Take some time to catch up on some of the latest reports we read, which cover topics ranging from the circular economy to cellulosic fibers.
ZDHC
The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme (ZDHC) recognizes the value of addressing hazardous substances that may be discharged into the environment, generated across the value chain of the textile and footwear industry, and decided to address MMCF production process by collaboratively creating an aligned approach for manufacturing facilities by working towards a circular approach for the substances present in the process and to generate cleaner outputs from production.
The ZDHC MMCF Guidelines is a set of guidelines that addresses integrated expectations for discharge wastewater quality, emissions to air, and chemical recovery for manufacturing facilities producing Man-Made Cellulosic Fibers.
Read the report here.
TE and Forum for the Future
Man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) such as Viscose/Rayon, Lyocell, Modal and Cupro, form the second biggest cellulosic fibre group after cotton. The MMCF value chain has the potential to tackle some of the apparel and broader textile industry’s most significant sustainability challenges and, as a consequence, make a very real contribution to building resilience and accelerating regeneration. Its unique prospects for realizing circular fashion, for instance, contrast sharply with the linear models of economic growth that have left many of our ecosystems on the verge of collapse. As a derivative of wood pulp and other natural plant materials, MMCF can play an important role in regenerating many of these ecosystems, as well as ensuring the health of carbon sinks, which play an essential role in stabilizing the Earth’s climate.
To date, however, the sector has faced considerable social and environmental challenges – from deforestation and biodiversity impacts related to raw material sourcing, to safe chemical use and labor rights concerns in the production process. As an industry on the cusp of significant growth, there is a narrow window of opportunity to fully harness MMCF’s potential.
Read the report here.
Resale Report
Like every business in the world, thredUP paused to focus on the safety of our teams and set a plan for the rest of 2020. At the time, it seemed that Covid had “changed everything.” But is that really true as we look ahead? Here’s what the latest data is telling us:
This year’s Resale Report, unlike any we’ve published, captures insights from two different consumer worlds: pre- and post-Covid. We hope it sparks rich dialogue about the enduring shifts underway and the forces fueling the future of resale.
Read the report here.
Material Change Insights Report
The Material Change Insights Report provides one of the most data-backed and comprehensive analyses of how the industry is progressing in its shift to preferred materials, as well as alignment with global efforts like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the transition to a circular economy. It builds on Textile Exchange’s Material Change Index (MCI) – a family of indices, published earlier in the year, that tracks individual company progress.
Read the report here.