US Senators Propose $14 Billion Circular Fashion Bill, SEC Approves Climate Rules, New Remake Report Reveals Industry Shortcomings, and H&M Group Launches New Textile Recycling Venture
Welcome to Week/End, your quick-hit guide to this week’s sustainability news at the intersection of fashion, ethics, sustainability, and business.
US Senators Propose $14 Billion Bill to Boost Circular Fashion and Manufacturing
US Senators Bill Cassidy and Michael Bennet introduced the Americas Trade and Investment Act, also known as the Americas Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to revitalize the textile industry in the United States by offering $14 billion in incentives to promote circular practices in apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textiles.
If passed, the bill could reshape US manufacturing by encouraging domestic circular businesses and incentivizing the reshoring of manufacturing from China. Key provisions of the bill include tax exclusions, preferential loans, grants for recycling and manufacturing programs, funding for innovation and research, and public education initiatives.
SEC Approves New Climate Disclosure Rules for US Companies, Excluding Scope 3 Emissions
Following a two-year process of drafting, public comments, and delays, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has greenlit its highly-anticipated climate disclosure rules. These rules mandate that public U.S. corporations disclose information regarding greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks impacting their businesses in annual public filings submitted to the agency.
The newly established rules will require publicly traded companies to assess and disclose how climate change poses threats to their business operations. This includes evaluating both physical risks as well as “transition risks” such as regulatory changes. However, the omission of Scope 3 emissions from the requirements has sparked debate among stakeholders, with environmental advocates expressing concern, arguing that it undermines the accuracy of disclosures and fails to address significant environmental risks
The rules are set to take effect in the coming fiscal years, with varying adoption deadlines based on company registration status with the SEC.
EU Agrees to Ban Goods Produced with Forced Labor
European Union policymakers reached a provisional agreement to prohibit the sale and availability of goods produced with forced labor within the EU's single market. The deal, agreed upon by the European Council and European Parliament, includes significant modifications to the original proposal, clarifying responsibilities for investigating breaches and deciding on product bans. Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne emphasized the necessity of eradicating modern slavery and breaking the business models of exploitative companies. While the regulation refrains from explicitly mentioning China due to WTO rules, concerns over forced labor in Xinjiang influenced the decision. The agreement outlines risk-based criteria for assessing forced labor, establishes a centralized database, and sets guidelines for investigations and product disposal. However, civil society groups express mixed feelings, citing the need for stronger remedies and lower evidentiary thresholds. The regulation awaits final approval from the European Council and European Parliament, with EU countries given three years to implement the new rule once endorsed.
Remake's 2024 Fashion Accountability Report Reveals Industry Shortcomings
Remake released its annual Fashion Accountability Report, assessing 52 major fashion companies' performance across six critical areas: commercial practices, raw materials, environmental justice, governance, traceability, and wages and wellbeing.
Despite efforts, the average accountability score remains low at 14 out of 150 points, mirroring last year's figures.
The report highlights persistent issues like overproduction, insufficient emission reduction, and the lack of action on climate change. Commercial practices, living wages, and traceability also remain problematic, with many companies failing to address these issues.
Lund University Researchers Achieve Textile Recycling Breakthrough: Transforming Old Cotton Sheets into New Viscose
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have made a significant breakthrough in textile recycling by developing a novel technique to produce new viscose from discarded cotton sheets.
Traditionally, viscose textiles are derived from forest biomass, but fully recycled viscose has been elusive until now. The team's innovative method involves converting complex cotton fibers, laden with dyes and contaminants, into viscose fibers, commonly used in garments such as blouses and dresses. This breakthrough not only addresses the environmental impact of textile disposal but also reduces reliance on precious forest resources.
While further optimization is needed, researchers are optimistic about the commercial viability of this eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative, poised to enhance sustainable textile practices.
Gap Inc. Partners with Ambercycle to Integrate Recycled Polyester in Athleta Products
Gap Inc. and Ambercycle announced a joint effort to advance circularity in performance apparel. Starting in 2026, Athleta will use Ambercycle's cycora regenerated polyester in its products, making it the first performance apparel brand to use the cycora® material at scale. Made from end-of-life textiles, cycora® is a high-performance material regenerated at the molecular level to replace conventional polyester by offering the same versatility and strength as conventional materials. In a statement, Athleta CEO Chris Blakeslee said, “As a mission-driven, B Corp-certified brand, Athleta is committed to reducing our environmental footprint by using recycled materials like cycora®, which not only aligns with our values but also meets our uncompromising quality standards.”
H&M Group and Partners Launch Syre, a Textile-to-Textile Recycler, Following Renewcell Bankruptcy
Less than a week after Renewcell, a textile recycler backed by H&M Group, announced its bankruptcy filing, H&M Group, along with Vargas Holding supported by TPG RiseClimate, unveiled Syre, a new venture focused on textile-to-textile recycling. Syre aims to revolutionize textile sustainability by decarbonizing and dewasting textiles, starting with polyester. Unlike traditional methods reliant on recycled PET bottles, which face challenges in material quality and circularity, Syre promises superior sustainability performance, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 85% compared to virgin polyester production. Aligned with H&M Group’s overarching material ambition, striving for 100 percent of materials to be either recycled or sustainably sourced by 2030, H&M committed to a $600 million take-or-pay agreement with Syre over seven years. Syre's CEO, Dennis Nobelius, envisions a circular value chain where textile waste finds repeated use, with plans to build production plants globally, aiming for over 3 million metric tons of circular polyester annually by 2032.
Newly Added Jobs on the SFF Job Board
Hermès, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, New York, NY, USA → Learn More & Apply
URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly), Anthropologie Sustainability & Social Impact Intern, Philadelphia, NY, USA → Learn More & Apply
Crocs, Sustainability Coordinator - Data and Materials, Broomfield, CO, USA → Learn More & Apply
Brooks Running, Sustainability Analyst, Seattle, WA, USA → Learn More & Apply
Aritzia, Sustainability - Director, Environmental Impact, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada → Learn More & Apply
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✨Whether you’re just starting your journey or are a seasoned professional looking to level up your career, the SFF Job Board is your dedicated resource for finding opportunities that align with your passion and skills.
