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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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Business case

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

Innovation

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)

Contributing to the improvement of biodiversity including species diversity, total number of protected species, and ecosystem health

Biodiversity

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

Fashion and Textiles

Producing and gathering crop and animal products from land and water through farming, hunting, and fishing

Agriculture

Reuse, repurpose, and recycle waste streams within the same industry

Valorise waste streams - closed loop

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

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

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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  NEW  TOPICS August 25, 2021Asahi Kasei renews membership in Busines...      Exhibition December 14, 2020Bemberg™ Presented Hemang Agrawal's "Tat...      Exhibition October 21, 2020Information about Lakmé Fashion Week Fes...      Exhibition October 20, 2020Asahi Kasei first ever Japanese company ...      TOPICS October 6, 2020Introduction of our BCtA in India      Exhibition August 11, 20202020/7/16-10/9 Pitti Connect      Interview March 18, 2020President Elisabetta Gabri of Brunello S...      Interview January 22, 2020Antonio De Matteis, 2nd Generation CEO o...      Interview January 22, 2020President Adaya at Ahmad Adaya and compa...       Movie library   Learn More 

   Notable examples of Asahi Kasei products and processes used throughout the world. Electronic compass widely used in smartphones We are the world's leading electronic compass manufacturer, with a dominant market share.   Pedestrian navigation systems on smartphones rely on an electronic compass that tells you the direction you're facing and enables the map to rotate as you turn. Ever since the launch of the world's first 3-axis electronic compass equipped with a digital interface in the summer of 2003, Asahi Kasei has been widely recognized as the world's No. 1 electronic compass manufacturer, maintaining a dominant market share. There are three main features of our electronic compass:  (1)Si monolithic Hall sensor technology enabling measurement of the geomagnetic field in three dimensions with a single-chip device, achieving the very small package size of 1.6 mm square and 0.5 mm thick. (2)Hall sensors don't saturate even when used in close proximity to strong magnetic sources such as speakers. This provides more flexibility and ease in design. (3)The patented algorithm we developed to automatically compensate for magnetic offset caused by temperature change and external magnetic disturbance. This software enables us to provide total solutions together with hardware to customers worldwide.       S-SBR for fuel-efficient tires Our solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) enables tires to provide greater fuel-efficiency while maintaining superior braking performance.   The adoption of fuel-efficient tires, or "eco tires," is quickly becoming widespread. In many countries, tires are labeled based on a standard system of ranking performance aspects such as fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) and braking performance (wet grip). To be considered an "eco tire" generally requires a high rating for both fuel efficiency and braking performance. Although lower rolling resistance will provide better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, there was conventionally a tradeoff with lower grip and decreased braking performance. While it was known that compounding the tire rubber with silica particles could help overcome this tradeoff, early attempts were hampered by poor dispersion.  Asahi Kasei developed S-SBR for fuel-efficient tires by using polymer modification technology to add a special molecule that chemically bonds to silica at the end of the rubber molecules. This technology enables silica to be efficiently dispersed and tightly bound to the rubber molecules, resulting in a dramatic increase in fuel-efficiency without impairing braking performance.      World-leading technology to treat intractable disease Therapeutic apheresis products from Asahi Kasei use membrane separation and selective adsorption technology to enable the treatment of many intractable diseases that can't be treated using drugs. "Apheresis" is derived from the Greek word for "to take away." Therapeutic apheresis is used to treat a wide range of intractable diseases, such as autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis, neurological diseases, lipid disorders, and chronic hepatitis C. Blood is drawn from a patient and circulated through a medical device that removes pathogenic substances by separation or adsorption; the treated blood is then returned to the patient. Therapeutic apheresis is the only treatment option in many cases where there is no safe and effective drug, or where side effects are contraindicative, and is increasingly used in the field of preventive medicine. Asahi Kasei's world-class membrane separation and selective adsorption technologies, using hollow-fiber membranes, nonwovens, and other advanced materials, enable the production of a wide range of therapeutic apheresis devices for the treatment of a variety of conditions. Examples include the Plasmaflo™ separator for plasmapheresis, Cellsorba™ leukocytapheresis column, and the Immusorba™ immunoadsorption column. As the world's largest manufacturer of therapeutic apheresis devices, Asahi Kasei is also a leader in the advancement and promotion of this unique type of therapy. As one part of this effort, we operate a training center for therapeutic apheresis called the Apheresis Technology Square (the A-Square). The A-Square provides a venue for health care personnel from throughout Japan and around the world to obtain practical, hands-on training together with information on the latest therapeutic apheresis technology and products. Reference material: Pocket Manual of Therapeutic Apheresis (published by Ishiyaku Publishers, Inc.), etc.   Plasmaflo™ separator for plasmapheresis Apheresis Technology Square   World-leading Hall elements Hall elements from Asahi Kasei provide high precision and high performance even under extreme temperatures.   The Hall effect is the generation of an electrical voltage perpendicular to a magnetic field. It was discovered by Dr. Edwin Hall in 1879. The Hall element is a magnetic sensor that uses the Hall effect to detect magnetic fields, with the strength of the output signal varying in proportion to the size of the magnetic field. Hall elements are mainly used as sensors to detects motor rotation. Asahi Kasei is the world’s leading manufacturer of Hall elements, and has developed many new applications by combining Hall elements with signal processing ICs to form Hall ICs that provide highly precise detection of position and angle. We have also pioneered the use of gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates, which provide substantially improved temperature characteristics and detection accuracy. Hall elements from Asahi Kasei are widely used in home electronics and automotive electronics, where stable operation under severe temperature conditions is required.      Acrylonitrile production process using natural gas With this innovative, world-leading process, it’s possible to make plastic without oil.   Acrylonitrile (AN) is the main raw material for acrylic fiber and ABS resin, which are commonly used in products all around us. These include sweaters, carpets, automotive parts, home electronics, office equipment, and video game consoles. AN is conventionally produced using propylene from cracked naphtha, a petroleum derivative. Asahi Kasei developed the world’s first successful propane process for AN production using propane obtained from natural gas. This breakthrough process that avoids the need for oil as feedstock is a testament to the strength of our core technology in catalysts. This propane process for AN was first used in commercial operation in 2007, at the Ulsan Plant of Tong Suh Petrochemical, a subsidiary in Korea. In the following year, Asahi Kasei and PTT of Thailand decided to jointly construct a propane-process AN plant in Thailand, and the plant started operation in 2011.      Comfortable and lustrous natural fiber made of cotton linter. Comfortable and lustrous natural fiber made of cotton linter.   Bemberg™ is the brand name for cupro, the regenerated cellulose fiber derived from cotton linter, the short fibers on cotton seeds. Bemberg™ is easily biodegradable in soil, and it is currently produced only by Asahi Kasei. With its silky luster, moisture absorption/release, and high antistatic properties, Bemberg™ endows garments with a beautiful silhouette and exquisite comfort. Friendly to both people and the Earth, it is used in a wide range of fields such as linings, innerwear, outerwear, interior furnishings, and bedding.       Microza™ systems in water-treatment facilities worldwide Cutting-edge Microza™ water-processing technology is widely used in electronics, power generation, automotive, and pharmaceutical applications.   Microza™ is a hollow-fiber membrane filtration system developed by Asahi Kasei. Featuring uniform pore size and pore shape, Microza™ membranes made of special organic polymers are used to purify and clarify liquids by passing the feed liquid through pores in the membrane walls, while blocking the passage of microscopic particles. It is used for water processing and clarification technology in a wide range of fields, including electronics, drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, and power generation, as well as in the automotive and chemical industries, and in environmental preservation applications.      UVC LEDs A new source of ultraviolet light for disinfection and sterilization   UVC refers to ultraviolet light with wavelengths between 200–280 nanometers (nm). Light in the UVC wavelength can be used for disinfecting water and sterilizing surfaces, destroying harmful micro-organisms in food products and in air. In the range of 250–280 nm, UVC radiation renders harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses ineffective, by destroying the genetic information in the DNA. The micro-organisms lose their reproductive capability and are destroyed. The germicidal nature of UV is well suited to treat parasites which are extremely resistant to chemical disinfectants. UVC LEDs are expected to contribute to safety in various fields. They can be used for water disinfection in homes and factories, surface sterilization of medical devices and food products, and air purification through air purifiers and air conditioners.   Klaran™ UVCLED devices   ZOLL AED Plus™ automated external defibrillator Do you know how to help a victim of sudden cardiac arrest?   Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike at any time. Without AEDs and CPR, the prospects for survival are bleak. Fewer than 10% of SCA victims typically survive, but studies show that 30% to 50% would likely survive if CPR and AEDs were used within five minutes of collapse.1 High-quality CPR is crucial to any rescue attempt, but many lay rescuers have little experience with CPR. The ZOLL AED Plus™ provides real-time CPR feedback on compression depth and rate to help rescuers consistently deliver better CPR. The AED Plus™ is just one of ZOLL's products in the "Chain of Survival," a sequence of critical actions to rescue victims of cardiac arrest. These include early recognition of the problem, calling emergency medical services, performing immediate CPR, and advanced medical treatment by emergency personnel who arrive at the scene. The survival rate can be dramatically increased by a prompt and appropriate first response by lay rescuers to perform CPR with chest compressions and the use of an AED.   1Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, 2008    ZOLL AED Plus™ automated external defibrillator   Non-phosgene process for producing polycarbonate Safer, more environmentally friendly technology utilizing CO2 as starting material   As an engineering plastic featuring excellent heat resistance, impact resistance, dimensional stability, and transparency, polycarbonate (PC) is widely used in various applications including mobile phones, automobile headlamps, home appliances, office equipment, DVDs, etc. All the conventional processes used carbon monoxide (CO) as starting material, and most of them produced PC in the phosgene process where CO and chlorine were combined to form phosgene, a highly toxic gas, as feedstock material. There are several serious drawbacks of the phosgene process:  Use of highly toxic phosgene Need for a large quantity of methylene chloride, a hazardous low boiling-point solvent Need to treat a large quantity of wastewater containing methylene chloride Corrosion of equipment due to the use of chloride compounds Chloride impurities in the product PC  Asahi Kasei achieved in the world’s first successful development and commercialization of a process to produce PC from CO2 as starting material without using highly toxic phosgene. The Asahi Kasei process is an environmentally friendly process epitomizing the concept of Green and Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) by overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional process related to the environment, safety, and cost performance.   Polycarbonate resin         

Japan

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Asahi Kasei

<p>Asahi Kasei is a Japanese chemical producer who started producing a GRS-certified cupro fibre called 'Bemberg'. This fibre is made from 100% pre-consumer waste; cotton linter, a by-product that's removed when extracting cottonseed oil.&nbsp;It has a wide variety of applications such as lining, underwear and activewear with a production capacity of 17,000 tonnes annually.&nbsp;</p>