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Business case

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 the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

Reduced green house gas emissions released into the biosphere

Reduce Emissions (SDG13)

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

Reduce Material Consumption (SDG12)

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)

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

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

Fashion and Textiles

Using bio-based materials such as bioplastics, mushroom-based materials, etc.

Alternative bio-based materials and inputs

Enacting measures that optimise material use such as 3D printing, etc.

Material efficiency

Using materials that can be easily reused or recycled after use

Reusable, recyclable materials and inputs

Using waste materials that have been processed and recycled to produce new products within the same industry

Using closed loop recycled materials

Designing products so they produce as little waste as possible during production

Design for minimal waste

Designing products so they use as little materials, water, energy, etc. as possible during use

Design for resource efficiency

Designing products to remove any barriers to recycling and enable easy recyclability

Design for recycling

Research and facilitate new technological developments to aid the transition to a circular economy.

Research and Development

Review and update regulation

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

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

Ensure renewable, reusable, non-toxic resources are utilised as materials and energy in an efficient way

Prioritise regenerative resources [Textiles]

Utilise bio-based, reusable, non-toxic and non-critical materials

Regenerative materials [Textiles]

Alternative bio-based materials and inputs [Textiles]

Impacts

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Industries

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

Policies

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

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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The Textiles Key Elements Framework is based on the main Key Elements Framework which renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive textile-focused strategies and interventions. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete inspiring exemples to prevent and reduce the textiles waste mountain. 

The Framework consists of:
- 3 core elements: activities directly handling textile product or material flows; and uniquely,
- 4 Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.

Under which strategies provide further detail. Finally, each strategy consists of a diversity of tangible solutions which are framed in relation to the sought outcome. 

'Click through each of the seven elements cards below to explore the framework and circular textile-focused case studies in more depth!'

This framework was developed in collaboration with Circle Economy's textiles team. Read more about it [here]( https://www.circle-economy.com/programmes/textiles). 

Textiles Key Elements Framework

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 An action-based framework for apparel brands working towards circular strategies

 From the lab to the store: Last week saw the debut of a limited-edition jean model by Weekday, part of the H&M Group, made with the new sustainable textile regenerated fiber Infinna.The 64 pairs of jeans offered via Weekday’s online shop are made with 50% organic cotton and 50% Infinna. The new fiber is created out of 100% textile waste. The scientific name for Infinna is cellulose carbamate fiber and has been introduced by Infinited Fiber Company, a specialized Finnish textile-fiber recycler, who developed the new product.      Weekday 'Rowe' fit made with Infinna  “Lots of different garments have been created with Infinna in the past to demonstrate how our regenerated textile fiber works in different fabric applications from T-shirts to hoodies to dress shirts to jeans. But these are the first garments that are available for anyone out there to purchase,” said Infinited Fiber Company’s key account director Kirsi Terho.Infinna is said to have the soft and natural look and feel of cotton and is created out of 100% textile waste like, for instance, old clothes that would otherwise end up as pollution in landfills or be burned (because that’s what happens to most discarded textiles around the world).The new fiber looks and feels like cotton because it bonds well with cotton, as both yarn and fabric. Its durability makes it a good blend for demanding applications like denim. It can be woven as a soft 100% Infinna denim, though alternative blends using 65% Infinna with cotton can also work out fine. Future tests will show whether an 80% Infinna blend might feel the same. In addition to denim, Infinna can be used for different fabrics and weaves like, for instance, single jersey, French terry, woven fabrics and printed wovens.According to Infinited, Infinna is biodegradable and clothes made with it can be recycled again in the same process together with other textile waste as it is created out of cellulose, the building block of all plants. Any non-cellulosic materials in the raw material–such as polyester, elastane and dyes–are removed in Infinited Fiber Company’s process. While the Infinna in Weekday’s jeans is made from textile waste, Infinited Fiber Company’s technology can also use and recycle other cellulose-rich waste streams–such as used cardboard or paper or wheat or rice straw–as its raw material.      Only 64 jeans of Weekday's Rowe jeans are made with Infinna.  As for Weekday’s jeans, Infinna is used for the women’s fit, Rowe, and, like all the other Rowe jeans, they are priced at 500 Swedish krona (around €50), in keeping with the philosophy that sustainable shouldn’t be exclusive and have to become mainstream for maximum impact.  “We’ve previously teamed up with actor Maisie Williams and co-designed a custom two-piece outfit made from 100% Infinna, [...] This time around, we wanted to scale up this concept and give a wider audience the chance to choose circular design and created a limited edition of our most popular women’s jeans fit Rowe,” says Weekday head of design Anna Norling.READ ALSO:         Fabrics Infinited Fiber: ‘We can make circularity a reality’ Read more →            Sustainability Lenzing launches carbon-zero Tencel fibers Read more →            Fabrics Is this fiber the future of fabrics? Read more →    

          Infinna™ has the natural look and feel of cotton, plus unique properties that make it ideal for use in a range of fabrics – from soft single jersey and French terry to denim, shirting fabric and beyond. Made from cellulose-rich waste like discarded textiles, used cardboard or even rice straw, Infinna™ is a new premium cellulose fiber that works wonderfully on its own, and also blends beautifully with fibers like organic cotton and viscose. Use at 100% or blend with other fibersBetter dye uptake than cotton or viscoseNatural anti-microbial properties
  Infinna™ looks and feels like cotton because it bonds well with cotton, which is why it blends beautifully with cotton as both yarn and fabric. Its durability makes it the perfect blend for demanding applications like denim. We’ve created lovely soft 100% Infinna™ denim, and denim that feels just like your favorite pair of jeans by blending 65% Infinna™ with cotton. Future tests will show whether an 80% Infinna™ blend might feel the same. Infinna™ has been tested and proven for production of yarn counts from Ne8 to Ne40.Tested spinning methods: compact siro spinning, ring spinning, open-end spinning, Murata VORTEX spinning.Infinna™ can be spun at full speed and blended like any other fiber.
 The fabrics and clothing featured here are made from 50% – 100% Infinna™ reborn from 100% post-consumer textile waste, demonstrating the versatility and quality of our fibers.  They just feel like normal fabrics. And it’s great that we can have fabrics that have such a good background and come from such a good place. And can do so many things in the future again. I love it!     
 
 

      Written by John Mowbray	    Published: 20 April 2021        HELSINKI – Infinited Fiber Company (IFC), which produces cellulosic fibres from textile waste, plans to build a 30,000 metric tons per year facility in Finland at a cost of €220 million. Working with textile machine builder Andritz, it expects the new manufacturing plant will be operational in 2024 and is the next step for IFC in its bid to scale its recycled cellulose fibre technology to commercial levels. The company currently operates pilot facilities in the cities of Espoo and Valkeakoski, Finland, with a combined nominal capacity of 150 metric tons/annum. It’s already working with apparel brands such as H&M, Bestseller, PVH Corp, Wrangler and Patagonia. Log in or subscribe to see this content   

      Written by Chris Remington	    Published: 05 July 2021        HELSINKI – Infinited Fiber Company, which produces cellulosic fibre from textile waste, has secured €30 million (US$35.6m) in new capital, with the likes of Bestseller, H&M and Adidas amongst the investors.   Bestseller and H&M have also announced new multi-year sales agreements with the Finnish innovator, following in the footsteps of outdoor brand Patagonia.  It lays the foundations for a successful launch at Infinited Fiber's planned €220 million (US$261m) flagship factory in Finland, which will be capable of producing 30,000 metric tonnes of the chemically-recycled fibre per year.  “We can now also boost our pilot facilities so that we can better serve our existing customers and also grow our customer-base in preparation for both our flagship factory and for the future licensees of our technology,” commented the firm's co-founder and CEO, Petri Alava.  Log in or subscribe to see this content   

Patagonia and Infinited Fiber Company have announced a multiyear deal guaranteeing the outdoor apparel brand access to Infinna™, the textile technology startup’s trademark fiber created out of textile waste. Infinna™ is a unique regenerated material that features the “soft and natural look and feel of cotton.” Both companies see this as a big milestone for actualizing textile circularity in the near future. “Circularity is a marathon, not a sprint. By partnering with companies like Infinited Fiber Company, we are able to build a circularity partnership that not only recycles the products of the past but builds a circularity plan for the products of the future,” said Patagonia Lead Material Developer Ciara Cates.Although the lifespan of textiles can be extended through repurposing or upcycling – think thrifting or cutting jeans into shorts – there is an eventual end products reach where it’s beyond repair. Instead of opting for the landfill, Infinited Fiber Company is breaking down textiles at the molecular level in order to transform the cellulose – the building blocks of all plants – into new fibers. This regenerative approach allows Infinna™ to be completely biodegradable with no microplastics. An item utilizing Infinna™ is capable of continuously going through the same cycle. “There are many reasons to be excited about Infinna™. First and foremost, it enables the creation of beautiful, comfortable clothes 100% out of textile waste that’s been born again as Infinna™,” said Infinited Fiber Company CEO Petri Alava in an interview with Forbes. “And Infinna™ can also be created out of other cellulose-rich waste streams like used cardboard, paper, or even agricultural residues like rice or wheat straw. No matter which of these goes in, what comes out is the same, premium textile fiber.”Infinited Fiber CompanyPatagonia has long been at the forefront of combating the climate crisis. In tandem with a long list of philanthropical endeavors, the apparel company also has a number of sustainable product initiatives, from its repair and reuse program Worn Wear, to NetPlus, where the brand uses recycled fish nets to create jackets, hats, and more. “Patagonia is an industry pioneer in sustainable clothing and practices. Their environmental standards and requirements for sustainability are top of the league. We are humbled by their stamp of approval for Infinna™ as the circular alternative to virgin cotton going forward, and we’re very proud of the long-term commitment they have now made to using Infinna™ in their future collections,” said Infinited Fiber Company Key Account Director Kirsi Terho.Patagonia’s commitment is a clear indicator that innovation in all areas of a company is almost required, especially in textile and materials. Textile Exchange notes that the global textile fiber market is expected to grow 30% from 111 million metrics tons in 2019 to 146 million metrics tons by 2030. Most of what is produced ends up in landfills or incinerators so the use of alternative materials and the support developing new options is not only a nice-to-have, it’s necessary. Patagonia’s deal with Infinited Fiber Company, which also supplies materials to H&M and Wrangler, will help the textile startup grow and scale to meet the overall demand of the global fashion and apparel industry. Infinited Fiber Company is planning to open a flagship factory in Finland that will have an annual production capacity of 30,000 metric tons, which, as the company states in a press release, “is enough fiber for roughly 100 million T-shirts made with 100% Infinna™.” In related news, a recently published report states the next-gen materials industry will hit $2.2 billion USD by 2026.

Finland

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"We’re on a mission to make textile circularity an everyday reality – offering a way to capture the value in waste by regenerating it as a new and versatile textile fiber. We see a future that’s not reliant on precious natural resources and where old processes are replaced with cutting-edge alternatives. Working together with textile producers, brands and people who share our vision, we can bring joy and hope back to closets, homes and people as we go." - Infinited Fiber

Infinited Fiber Company

Patagonia, Inc. is an American retailer of outdoor clothing. It was founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973 and is based in Ventura, California.
Patagonia is known for its upscale outdoor clothing and various environmental sustainability efforts. The company continues to grow by offering products that are designed to last.

Patagonia

H&M Group

The Finnish company&nbsp;Infinited Fiber&nbsp;produces chemically-recycled super fibre&nbsp;Infinna&nbsp;from cellulose-rich waste - such as old textiles, used cardboard or crop residues - that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled. The high-quality fibre looks and feels like cotton and is known scientifically as cellulose carbamate fibre. Non-cellulosic particles like polyester, elastane and dyes are cleaned out by the process in which urea reacts with the cellulose, leaving a fibre that is more sustainable than conventional cotton, polyester or viscose. The fibre also has unique qualities like antimicrobial properties and superior dye uptake whilst being biodegradable and free of microplastics.Companies like H&amp;M Group, Patagonia and Adidas have invested and signed deals with the Finnish company, which expects to have its factory operational in 2024 with an annual production capacity of 30,000 metric tons. In the latest funding round from July 2021, the company raised 30 million Euros from well-known brands for further investment in their flagship factory and production capacities.