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This collection has been built by a community of passionate researchers, students, and industry professionals as part of <a href="https://worldcirculartextilesday.com/" target="_blank">World Circular Textiles Day</a> (WCTD). 


World Circular Textiles Day takes place every year on 8th October. Our vision is to galvanise the collective ambitions and goals of people, organisations and businesses to reach a fully circular textiles world by 2050. Our mission is to provide a framework for circularity stakeholders to develop and deliver a collaborative, evolving roadmap and to chart circularity’s momentum annually from the 8th of October until 2050.

What does fully circular by 2050 mean?
- Shared textile resources, in the form of products and raw materials, are kept in **continual circulation**.
- Virgin resources are **replaced with circular materials**.
- Dignity, equity, and equality for the **people** involved in all parts of the circular value chain.

We need to know where we stand today to chart how to get to 100% Circularity by 2050. What circular activity is currently happening in the textiles and apparel industry, and where in the world is it happening? The WCTD Collection aims to answer this question by building the world’s largest digital library of circular textiles case studies. 

World Circular Textiles Day is proud to be supported by our 2022-23 Circular Hero Partners:
[Lenzing](https://www.lenzing.com/), [Texaid](https://retailsolutions.texaid.com/), [Bank & Vogue](https://www.bankvogue.com/), [Usha yarns limited](https://ushayarns.com/), [The Conduit](https://www.theconduit.com/), and [Asia Pacific Rayon](https://www.aprayon.com/en/)

## Want to contribute to the WCTD Collection? Sign up and add your circular textiles activities.

World Circular Textiles Day

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Starter Kit collection

Business case

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

Impacts on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families.

Social Impact

Impacts on the financial condition of a company, as well as the the economicconditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at local, national, andglobal levels.

Economic Impact

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Direct and indirect reduction in economic costs

Cost Savings

Direct and indirect effects that increase revenues or the potential for new revenues, for example from new products, customer segments, partnerships or business models

Revenue Potential

Impact on the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

Scalability

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Producing and providing business and consumer goods and services

Goods and Services

Producing textile and leather products and processing them into apparel and accessories

Fashion and Textiles

Providing goods on the Internet, through mail order, or television, or providing goods in stores, including apparel, electronics, furniture, food and drug, etc.

Retail

Use digital, online platforms and technologies that provide insights to track and optimise resource use, strengthen connections between supply chain actors, and enable the implementation of circular models



Incorporate digital technology

Employ online platforms to connect and improve information sharing between stakeholders

Digital platforms

Developing or utilising online platforms to enable circular economy opportunities through information, product or service offering

Online platforms

VISION:
Products and services are designed for multiple use and material value retention, with maximum positive impact.

DETAIL: 
Imagine a time when…products flow via optimal collection and distribution streams into reusable and repairable product platforms. Reuse and access models are dominant, and products are designed for multiple recirculation before biodegrading (if designed to do so), or being broken down into reusable raw materials for production. People only consume what they need. Production and consumption wastes have been fully eliminated and multifunctional, season-less and timeless fashions are the norm, yet still fulfil our human need for expression and creativity without constraint. All business models, organisations, governments and citizens play a role in maintaining a healthy, functioning circular ecosystem.

Products and Services

Impacts

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Industries

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The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

It is 2050.  Full systems change has taken place. This wouldn’t have been possible without the immediate action and radical steps taken from 2020 onwards. Many targets had to be identified in the early 2020s and achieved by 2030 to ensure that the 2050 goal happened in full. A sense of urgency, turbo stakeholder collaboration, supportive government regulation and clear, data driven targets enabled the mindsets and systems change needed to transform to a fully circular textiles ecosystem.

A circular economics model underpins what we have created. It reflects and supports a living organism made up of makers, users and restorers, interacting across vibrant and interconnected networks. Checks and balances, alongside transparency and accountability, ensure a healthy system. Financial, environmental, and social metrics have the purpose of serving communities and the planet. There is shared ownership of profit and loss – across all three metrics – throughout the value chain.

This is what we’ve achieved over the last 30 years:

WCTD Themes

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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           ““I started thredUP back in 2009 after staring at a closet full of clothes that I never wore. I knew there was value locked up in those clothes and I knew I wasn’t the only one. Looking back on that moment, I certainly didn’t appreciate how that insight could eventually upend how we look at innovation in retail, the apparel industry, and our environment.”– James Reinhart, thredUP Co-founder and CEO ”  
   “thredUP expands its market by introducing kids with the tagline, “Clothes don’t grow, kids do.””  
   “thredUP introduces the Clean Out Kit, which makes selling as easy as filling a bag. thredUP begins to unlock a massive supply of quality clothes from consumers’ closets.”  
   “thredUP opens its first manual distribution center and begins to increase our daily processing capacity.”  
   “thredUP expands beyond kids clothing by launching resale for women. The women’s business quickly surpasses the kids.”  
   “thredUP expands to include designer fashion with curated pieces from high-end brands.”  
   “thredUP opens its first distribution center with automation in Mechanicsburg, PA.”  
   “thredUP opens an office in Kiev, Ukraine for a team of engineers and data scientists.”  
   “Pop-up retail shops open in Texas and California, allowing thrifters to experience thredUP in real life.”  
   “thredUP launches Shop Her Closet, where fans get access to the coveted wardrobes of their favorite celebrities and influencers, and all the proceeds go to charity.”  
   “thredUP launches Goody Boxes, giving customers a wardrobe upgrade with zero work: 10 items for a $10 deposit, converting a generation of secondhand skeptics to thrift shoppers.”  
   “thredUP writes an open letter challenging Burberry to do better after news broke that they burned over $37 million in excess inventory in one year.READ THE LETTER”  
   “thredUP launches Resale-as-a-Service (RAAS), allowing brands to plug into its resale engine to deliver thrift experiences to their customers.LEARN MORE ABOUT RAAS”  
   “thredUP launches the Circular Fashion Fund501(c)(3) to support small business and fashion pioneers who are committed to progressing a sustainable fashion future.”  
   “Secondhand gets further destigmatized when celebrities like Olivia Wilde, Lena Dunham, and Jonathan Van Ness partner with thredUP to combat textile waste.”  
   “After 9 years in San Francisco, HQ moves into a historic building in Oakland, CA that reflects its ethos of reuse. All design elements are secondhand, vintage, reused, or repurposed.”  
   “thredUP replaces paper mailers with recycled poly mailers that are 100% recyclable and 100% reusable.”  
   “thredUP launches the Fashion Footprint Calculator to help consumers understand how their fashion habits contribute to climate change.TAKE THE QUIZ”  
   “thredUP launches a secondhand shop on Walmart.com, bringing thrift to the masses.”  
   “thredUP opens a new distribution center in Atlanta, GA.”  
   “thredUP launches a rebrand that reflects the shift to thrift and celebrates the growing momentum of secondhand.”  
   “thredUP partners with fashion icon Christian Siriano to launch the first universal thrift logo for used clothes, signaling secondhand pride and the desire to #ThriftLoudly.”  
   “thredUP has processed 100 million items and displaced a total of 1 billion lbs of CO2e. Consumers have also saved a total of $3.3B off estimated retail price!”  
   “Thrifted looks from thredUP walk the runway at New York Fashion Week, signifying an industry shift toward a more sustainable future for fashion.”  
Follow along on the next chapter of our journey!   

United States

San Francisco

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thredUP

thredUP is an online resale platform where consumers can send in unwanted clothing for cash or credit. In 2018, they also launched their new online platform UPcycle, which allows fashion brands and retailers to join them in circular initiatives.The initiative has reportedly displaced a total of 1 billion lbs of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) up until 2021.&nbsp;

thredUP - Extending the life cycle of clothing by inspiring consumers to think secondhand first

Reduced use of virgin materials and/or an increase of the use of secondary and bio-based materials

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

Reduced use and withdrawal of water and rate of recycling and reuse of water

Save Water (SDG6)

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Marketplaces or services that enable the second hand sale of own-brand products

Own brand second-hand sale

Marketplaces or services that enable the second hand sale of products

Second-hand sale, distribution

VISION:
Raw materials are renewable, recyclable and safe, kept in continual circulation.

DETAIL:
Imagine a time when…the raw materials that are used to make things are sourced from existing products and regenerative agriculture, via carbon negative and climate neutral processes. Biodegradable raw materials are used for products with biodegradable end routes. Toxic chemicals have been washed out of the global materials pool, disposed of safely and replaced with beneficial alternatives. Virgin fibres made from fossil fuels have been banned, while secondary synthetic fibres, derived from what was already in the system, are kept in constant circulation as a resource. Circularity accounting methods, built on science-based metrics, help to manage a balanced system of resources, across all industries, and in line with the planet’s environmental limits.

Raw Materials and Planetary Boundaries

CE Materials

Materials

A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policy Instruments

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

Nace Sectors

Topics

Urban Opportunities

Whilst no two countries are the same, there are still obvious similarities between some of them, with discernible development patterns and parallels in evidence. Common problems and shared solutions help place unique country identities and individual issues in context.

Whilst this classification is far from clear-cut and exhibits some overlap, it does underline how the discourse on transitioning to a circular economy needs to account for both differences and commonalities, if we are to arrive at a more strategic and instructive analysis. It also allows to highlight a set of key themes that are likely to be central to the countries that fall under the respective profiles. 

Country profiles (Build, Grow, Shift)

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A framework to distinguish between different country profiles and their circular transition needs.

Browse case studies by type of implementing stakeholder.

Implementing stakeholders

80+ circular strategies for product development 
organised hierarchically into three tiers
with tier 1 and tier 2 based on the Key Elements Framework

DISRUPT

The Circular City Actions Framework provides urban changemakers with five complementary strategies they can use to start working towards a more circular system. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete strategic directions and showcase the desired outcomes of each strategy. 
The framework consists of five complementary **strategies**, under which **sub-strategies** provide further detail. Finally, each sub-strategy consists of a diversity of tangible **solutions** which are framed in relation to key thematic areas. 

Note: solutions are currently focused on:
- 🍏 **Food systems**
- 🏢  **Built environment**
- 👕📱  **Consumer goods**
- ⚡ **Energy Systems**
- 🚌 **Mobility Systems**
- 💧 **Water Systems**

More thematic areas are coming soon...

'Click through each of the five strategy cards below to explore the framework and circular economy case studies in more depth!'



This framework was developed in collaboration with ICLEI, Metabolic and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with support from the MAVA Foundation. Read more about it [here]( https://circulars.iclei.org/action-framework/). 



Circular City Actions Framework

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An action-based framework for local governments working towards circular cities

 Major US department store chains JCPenney and Macy’s have both announced
they will debut selling used apparel through partnerships with San
Francisco-based fashion resale company ThredUp. JCPenney said on Friday that 30 of its stores will start offering a seasonal array of resale handbags and women’s fashion from the secondhand
apparel company, with the assortment uniquely branded in a 500 to 1,000-square-foot
presentation. To keep things fresh, the department store chain said it will be switching up the curated assortment of ThredUp items on a weekly basis. “With the rise of online resale markets, there’s no doubt that demand
for great value on quality brands is at an all-time high. There’s an
emotional thrill that comes with finding one-of-a-kind secondhand product
for much less,” Michelle Wlazlo, executive vice president and chief
merchant for JCPenney, said in a statement. “While there are more secondhand shoppers than ever before, we’ll
continue to test and evaluate how this resonates with customers. We’re
excited about the prospect of creating a new in-store experience that makes
high-end brands attainable, as well as catering to eco-minded consumers who
want more sustainable options in their wardrobe.” Resale market continues to attract big fashion names JCPenney is following in the footsteps of Macy’s, who earlier this
week announced it had been trialling resale services in 40 of its stores
across the US through a ThredUp partnership. The company said the move
would allow it to “reach Millennials and Gen Z who are passionate about
sustainable fashion and shopping resale.” Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette said during the company’s second-quarter
conference call: “We know many consumers are passionate about sustainable
fashion and shopping resale. This partnership gives us the opportunity to
reach a new customer and keep them coming back to shop and ever-changing
selection of styles and brands that we don't typically carry.” According to ThredUp’s annual Resale Report, the
resale fashion market has grown 21 times faster than the retail fashion
market over the past three years and is projected to grow from 24 billion
US dollars to 51 billion US dollars in the next five years. Photo credit: ThredUp, Facebook  

Macy's

JCpenney

Major US department store chains JCPenney and Macy’s have both announced they will debut selling used apparel through partnerships with San Francisco-based fashion resale company ThredUp. JCPenney said on Friday that 30 of its stores will start offering a seasonal array of resale handbags and women’s fashion from the secondhand apparel company, with the assortment uniquely branded in a 500 to 1,000-square-foot presentation. To keep things fresh, the department store chain said it will be switching up the curated assortment of ThredUp items on a weekly basis. JCPenney is following in the footsteps of Macy’s, who also announced it had been trialling resale services in 40 of its stores across the US through a ThredUp partnership. The company said the move would allow it to “reach Millennials and Gen Z who are passionate about sustainable fashion and shopping resale.”

JCPenney and Macy’s enter resale market with ThredUp partnerships


Gap Inc. has become the largest distribution partner for fashion
resale platform ThredUp. The retail company will join ThredUp's
Resale-as-a-Service program (RAAS), which allows retailers to offer
consumers clothing resale options. “ThredUp's Resale-as-a-Service platform was built with consumers
and retailers in mind,” said ThredUp's co-founder and CEO James
Reinhart said in a statement. “After spending the past decade building
the backbone of resale on the internet, we are thrilled to partner
with the iconic brands in the Gap Inc. portfolio to deliver a
convenient, responsible clean out service to their customers. By
working together we can pave the way for a more circular fashion
future.” Starting in April ThredUp's Clean Out bags or labels will be
available to customers in selectGap, Banana Republic, Athleta and
Janie and Jack stores in the U.S., allowing these shoppers a
convenient way to send in unwanted clothing for resale. Consumers can also turn in their secondhand clothing in exchange
for hopping credit that can be redeemed at Gap, Banana Republic,
Athleta or Janie and Jack. ThredUp sellers who redeem their credits at
a Gap Inc. brand will receive an additional 15 percent payout
bonus. “As the resale revolution continues to gain momentum, participating
in re-commerce is not only good for our planet, but good for
business,” Gap Inc. Specialty Brands president Mark Breitbard noted.
“Our customers are diversifying their closets, whether with new
clothing, rental pieces, or secondhand goods. We’re thrilled to
partner with thredUP in offering a sustainable and innovative way to
shop for the closet of the future.” Image: courtesy of ThredUp 

GAP Inc 

Gap Inc. has become the largest distribution partner for fashion resale platform ThredUp. The retail company will join ThredUp's Resale-as-a-Service program (RAAS), which allows retailers to offer consumers clothing resale options.

Gap and ThredUp partner up for Resale-as-a-Service platform

Article / Report

Consider opportunities to create greater value and align incentives that build on the interaction between products and services

Rethink the business model

The latest Resale Report commissioned by ThredUP, a sustainable enterprise that sets out to modernise thrifting through re-commerce, summarised the radical transformation of resale business model within the industry. The report aims to showcase the influencing power of the resale model and consumers in the post-pandemic era, and the opportunities to revamp the conventional business model through collaboration across the industry.&nbsp;

Resale models poised to accelerate with purpose-driven consumers in the industry

The last few years of growth in the resale market have been driven by the early adopters (the same ones who first adopted Airbnb or Lyft or DoorDash), but now even traditional retailers are starting to embrace secondhand.