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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 health and happiness of human populations

Well-being

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)

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)

Producing and providing leisure and personal products and services for consumers, such as cleaning products, sports equipment and toys, personal and beauty care products, as well as domestic and personal services such as caretaking, cleaning, hairdressing and other beauty treatment, funeral and related activities

Personal Products and Services

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

Fashion and Textiles

Producing basic and specialty chemicals, inks, agricultural chemical such as fertilisers and pesticides, plastics including packaging, and rubber

Chemical and Plastic

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

Agriculture

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

Prioritise regenerative resources

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

Regenerative materials

Using <a href="https://echa.europa.eu/information-on-chemicals" target="_blank">materials that are not toxic or hazardous</a>.

Non-toxic materials and inputs

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

Research and Development

Advocate for circular change

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

Regenerate strategies phase out hazardous or toxic materials and processes and substitute them with regenerative biomass resources. A circular economy aims to mimic natural cycles—by shifting to more regenerative farming practices, for example—while also maximising the share of circular biomass that enters the economy. Regeneration can happen both at the systems level (by designing regenerative processes) as well as at the product level (by switching synthetic to organic fertilisers, for example).

Regenerate

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

Policy Instruments

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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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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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         Quick-drying activewear. Collagen-boosting eye cream. Soft bed sheets and longer-lasting leather goods. Activated Silk technology — a pure platform made from natural silk protein and water — is replacing potentially toxic chemicals and improving performance in all these things and more. One cocoon at a time, one product at a time, we’re making the world a kinder, healthier place.     Quick-drying activewear. Collagen-boosting eye cream. Soft bed sheets and longer-lasting leather goods. Activated Silk technology — a pure platform made from natural silk protein and water — is replacing potentially toxic chemicals and improving performance in all these things and more. One cocoon at a time, one product at a time, we’re making the world a kinder, healthier place.    
                         Activated Silk technology is already making a world of difference in clothing and personal care products.
See what it can do for you    
                                                                                                     
        27% the average percentage of undisclosed chemicals in “100% natural” fibers (by weight)        Silk and human skin share a similar protein structure, with 18 amino acids in common.        The average woman is exposed to 168 unique personal care ingredients every day.        Almost 27% of the world’s industrial water pollution comes from the textile industry.        85% of clothing donations end up in landfills.        Up to 25% of the world’s chemicals are used in textile finishing alone.        42% of people don’t realize their personal care products contain ingredients made from crude oil.        75% of customers say sustainability is very or extremely important to them.        More than 62 million tons of apparel are consumed each year.        Nylon treated with ACTIVATED SILK™ dries up to 40% faster than nylon treated with synthetic chemicals.        30% the amount of polyurethane, acrylic resins and perfluorinated chemicals that ACTIVATED SILK™ currently replaces on leather     

           
Conventional chemical companies have been creating chemicals based on coal tar for 200 years now. Today, there are thousands of them, hiding in plain sight. But who’s counting?

We are. And it’s time for conscientious chemistry to catch up. 


There are currently
80,000+
harmful chemicals derived from fossil fuels.


So far we’ve created
27 chemicals
from molecules harvested from silk cocoons. With hundreds more on the horizon.

             
               We believe in building a more bioharmonious* relationship between people, the things we love and the world we live in. And we’re doing it with Activated Silk™ technology, a revolutionary green chemistry platform made from silk cocoons.
*Bioharmony happens when environmental sustainability and biocompatibility come together. Our bodies and our planet are all the better for it.    
     We partner with companies to replace fossil fuel-based chemicals in their products with bioharmonious Activated Silk. The result? Better product performance. Fewer nasty chemicals. Healthier people and planet.
You can finish a handbag with polyurethane.
Or you can do it with Activated Silk.       ACTIVATED SILK       Mulberry plants are grown naturally, irrigated only with rainwater.      Pesticide-free mulberry leaves are fed to growing silkworms.      Silkworms spin cocoons of natural silk fiber.      Silkworm pupae become a vital food source for various animals, including local fish.      Natural, non-GMO cocoons are shipped to Evolved by Nature in recyclable containers.      Cocoons are washed in a saltwater bath, leaving silk fibroin.      Silk fibroin is liquified in a simple salt solution, then filtered—leaving the silk protein and water that becomes Activated Silk.      Applied to leather to finish and enhance it.      Leather cut and sewn into a handbag.      Your relationship with the handbag begins.        
      We’re scientists. We’re farmers. We’re researchers and industry gurus. We’re people who believe if you can make things healthier and better, well, you should. With radically versatile silk molecules, we’re creating natural chemistry to replace petrochemicals and create brand-new performance benefits in textiles, beauty products and more. Much, much more.             
                                
          30% the amount of polyurethane, acrylic resins and perfluorinated chemicals that ACTIVATED SILK™ currently replaces on leather        42% of people don’t realize their personal care products contain ingredients made from crude oil.        More than 62 million tons of apparel are consumed each year.        Almost 27% of the world’s industrial water pollution comes from the textile industry.        Nylon treated with ACTIVATED SILK™ dries up to 40% faster than nylon treated with synthetic chemicals.        85% of clothing donations end up in landfills.        The average woman is exposed to 168 unique personal care ingredients every day.        75% of customers say sustainability is very or extremely important to them.        27% the average percentage of undisclosed chemicals in “100% natural” fibers (by weight)        Silk and human skin share a similar protein structure, with 18 amino acids in common.        Up to 25% of the world’s chemicals are used in textile finishing alone.      

         If you can make it, wear it or use it, we’re working to create better chemistry for it. And it all starts with bioharmonious Activated Silk™ technology. From natural silk protein, we’ve unlocked a comprehensive green chemistry platform with benefits for nearly every industry. One that’s in sync with people, the planet and your manufacturing process.* 
*That’s what we mean when we say bioharmonious.


    
               All-natural Activated Silk delivers an array of high-performance benefits to a variety of leather types, garments and accessories. All while reducing the use of synthetic chemicals, dyes and plastics. And right on the horizon: CircleMade™, a high-performance recycled leather composite option.
LEARN MORE          Boosts color saturation and richness across a broad spectrum of hues and leather types.      Enables an array of optical effects, designs and finishes without adding polyurethanes, acrylic resins or perfluorinated chemicals.      Improves color fixation for better quality control, reduced wastage and less dye making its way off your clothes and into the environment.              Boosts color saturation and richness across a broad spectrum of hues and leather types.      Enables an array of optical effects, designs and finishes without adding polyurethanes, acrylic resins or perfluorinated chemicals.      Improves color fixation for better quality control, reduced wastage and less dye making its way off your clothes and into the environment.                  Bioharmonious Activated Silk creates natural garments that look and feel better, are easier to care for and stay in your closet (read: out of the landfill) for longer. We’re also pioneering a high-performance yarn made from regenerated fibers and Activated Silk— it’s called CircleMade™, and it’s coming soon.          Reduces friction, torquing and pilling for better looking, longer lasting garments.      Minimizes shrinking by coating and protecting yarn’s fibers.      Tested and proven to last through a minimum of 50 washes.              Reduces friction, torquing and pilling for better looking, longer lasting garments.      Minimizes shrinking by coating and protecting yarn’s fibers.      Tested and proven to last through a minimum of 50 washes.                  From sweat-wicking sports bras to skin-cooling cycling tights, all-natural Activated Silk delivers unparalleled functional and tactile benefits to next-to-skin garments (where bioharmony matters most).          Increases absorbency (up to 50%), vertical wicking (up to 7x) and dry rate (up to 40%) over synthetic chemical alternatives.      Boosts odor absorption by up to 76%, so garments feel and smell fresher for longer.      Naturally maintains garment’s smooth texture and colorfastness.      Proven to last through a minimum of 50 washes (above industry standard).              Increases absorbency (up to 50%), vertical wicking (up to 7x) and dry rate (up to 40%) over synthetic chemical alternatives.      Boosts odor absorption by up to 76%, so garments feel and smell fresher for longer.      Naturally maintains garment’s smooth texture and colorfastness.      Proven to last through a minimum of 50 washes (above industry standard).                  Activated Silk teams with your skin’s collagen to fight signs of aging while delivering other active ingredients deep into the skin. All while replacing the harsh chemicals hiding in everything from eye creams to exfoliators. Use Activated Silk as a premium ingredient in your formulas — or have us make your products for you.          Partners with skin’s collagen to fight fine lines, loss of firmness and other signs of aging.      Delivers essential ingredients deeper into the skin through an active release system.      Has natural cleansing properties that perform as well or better than synthetic versions.      Keeps ingredients stable longer, so you can swap harsh preservatives for natural alternatives.      Free from allergens, phthalates, sulfates, parabens and all that scary stuff — safe for even sensitive skin.      Pretty straightforward but pretty important — we do no animal testing.              Partners with skin’s collagen to fight fine lines, loss of firmness and other signs of aging.      Delivers essential ingredients deeper into the skin through an active release system.      Has natural cleansing properties that perform as well or better than synthetic versions.      Keeps ingredients stable longer, so you can swap harsh preservatives for natural alternatives.      Free from allergens, phthalates, sulfates, parabens and all that scary stuff — safe for even sensitive skin.      Pretty straightforward but pretty important — we do no animal testing.                  With silk’s unique affinity for bonding with hair, it nourishes naturally by coating hair, smoothing texture, enhancing curl and protecting hair from the elements. Formulations for leave-in conditioners and shampoos are in the works, with great potential in hair styling, texturizing and coloring innovations, too.          Nourishes hair by smoothing hair fibers and sealing cuticles.      Has inherent cleansing properties that perform as well or better than synthetic versions.      Keeps ingredients stable longer, so you can swap harsh preservatives for natural alternatives.      Free from allergens, phthalates, sulfates, parabens and other harsh chemicals — and good for all hair types.              Nourishes hair by smoothing hair fibers and sealing cuticles.      Has inherent cleansing properties that perform as well or better than synthetic versions.      Keeps ingredients stable longer, so you can swap harsh preservatives for natural alternatives.      Free from allergens, phthalates, sulfates, parabens and other harsh chemicals — and good for all hair types.                  From aesthetic medicine to controlled-release drug delivery systems, Activated Silk is sparking a new generation of bioharmonious medical materials. It’s already showing its advantages as a bioharmonious dermal filler, with countless other applications on the way.          Biocompatible and safe for the body.      May provide more precise swelling control and better optical properties for superficial skin targeting.      Aims to support multiple product indications, with advanced material properties that don’t currently exist.              Biocompatible and safe for the body.      May provide more precise swelling control and better optical properties for superficial skin targeting.      Aims to support multiple product indications, with advanced material properties that don’t currently exist.            
       Our scientists are constantly brainstorming ways of making things better and healthier — for our clothes, our favorite foods, even our toothpaste.           Lead the circular-materials revolution. Created with regenerated fibers and Activated Silk, our all-natural CircleMade material is designed to be high-performance, with enhanced dye absorption, better durability and planet-friendly recyclability.        As a natural protein, Activated Silk can replace conventional waxes to prolong the life of our favorite foods. Cheese that lasts longer, strawberries that stay fresh, avocados that don’t over-ripen overnight—you name it, we’re cooking up healthy, all-natural ways to make it stay delicious with a light layer of silk protein.        With development partners, we’re exploring Activated Silk as an agent for texturizing and emulsification in oral care. One example: With Activated Silk’s multipurpose emulsifying and cleaning benefits, we may be able to create toothpaste with far fewer–and far better–ingredients. That’s something to smile about.               Lead the circular-materials revolution. Created with regenerated fibers and Activated Silk, our all-natural CircleMade material is designed to be high-performance, with enhanced dye absorption, better durability and planet-friendly recyclability.      As a natural protein, Activated Silk can replace conventional waxes to prolong the life of our favorite foods. Cheese that lasts longer, strawberries that stay fresh, avocados that don’t over-ripen overnight—you name it, we’re cooking up healthy, all-natural ways to make it stay delicious with a light layer of silk protein.      With development partners, we’re exploring Activated Silk as an agent for texturizing and emulsification in oral care. One example: With Activated Silk’s multipurpose emulsifying and cleaning benefits, we may be able to create toothpaste with far fewer–and far better–ingredients. That’s something to smile about.                     Nylon treated with ACTIVATED SILK™ dries up to 40% faster than nylon treated with synthetic chemicals.        30% the amount of polyurethane, acrylic resins and perfluorinated chemicals that ACTIVATED SILK™ currently replaces on leather        Silk and human skin share a similar protein structure, with 18 amino acids in common.        42% of people don’t realize their personal care products contain ingredients made from crude oil.        75% of customers say sustainability is very or extremely important to them.        85% of clothing donations end up in landfills.        The average woman is exposed to 168 unique personal care ingredients every day.        27% the average percentage of undisclosed chemicals in “100% natural” fibers (by weight)        Almost 27% of the world’s industrial water pollution comes from the textile industry.        Up to 25% of the world’s chemicals are used in textile finishing alone.        More than 62 million tons of apparel are consumed each year.      

Boston

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Evolved By Nature is a biotech company that creates new molecules for a healthier future. They hold patents covering a wide variety of silk molecular compositions and continue to discover, develop, and commercialize new applications for natural silk. They are supported by a growing team of scientists, engineers, and other experts passionate about putting an end to hidden, harmful chemicals. 

Evolved by Nature

<p>Evolved By Nature is a biotech company that creates new molecules for a healthier future. They hold patents covering a wide variety of silk molecular compositions and continue to discover, develop, and commercialize new applications for natural silk. They are supported by a growing team of scientists, engineers, and other experts passionate about putting an end to hidden, harmful chemicals.&nbsp;</p><p>Using Activated Silk™ technology – a green chemistry platform of sustainable silk molecules – the company is reducing reliance on problematic chemicals, building better supply chains, and increasing the performance potential of existing materials to advance the health of people and the planet.</p>