Behind the Break
“Behind the Break,” is a project aimed at exploring textile fibre fragmentation. The research aims to identify the root causes of fibre shedding during manufacturing, enhance existing test methods, and inform future industry best practices and policies to reduce textile pollution. A report accompanies the project, providing an overview of existing knowledge gaps, recent developments, critical insights, and emerging opportunities for meaningful action within the fashion and textile industry.
Problem Statement
Fibre fragment pollution poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Adopting interventions across the whole value chain is critical to reducing the amount of fibre fragments entering the environment. However, a key strategy to address fibre fragmentation at its source lies in better understanding its root causes to drive more responsible textile design and manufacturing. Currently, significant knowledge gaps on root causes persist, along with uncertainty regarding the reliability of test methods used to evaluate the true shedding of different materials.
Executive Summary
The “Behind the Break: Exploring Fibre Fragmentation” project is a collaborative initiative by Fashion for Good and The Microfibre Consortium, aiming to advance industry knowledge needed to address the issue of fibre fragmentation at its source. The project aims to reduce uncertainty by identifying the best use cases for different test methods and exploring how they can be enhanced or complemented. Additionally, the influence of various factors on a fabric’s propensity to shed will be analysed, providing insights to inform the development of targeted mitigation strategies.
Goals of the Project
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Advance research on root causes: Confirm or challenge current academic findings and assess the reliability of current testing methods by quantifying and characterising fibre fragments for the selected material archetypes.
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Validate test methods and reduce uncertainty: Assess the effectiveness and reliability of various test methods, identify their best use cases, and align towards standardised approaches that enable consistent and reliable data collection.
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Strengthening data correlation: Compare results across methods to identify variations, and uncover discrepancies or trends within the data.
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Address gaps and drive improvements: Evaluate current methods to pinpoint limitations, address shortcomings, and build upon existing databases to enable upstream design interventions and supply chain improvements.
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Inform policy and regulatory efforts: Deliver critical insights to support the development of policies and regulations aimed at addressing fibre fragmentation.
Brands
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Supply Chain partners
Relevant Resources
What are microfibres and microplastics in fashion?
In Conversation with NFW: Creating biomaterials that support plastic-free design
Pilot Project to Tackle Plastic Polybag Waste in Fashion Industry
Recycling company First Mile has partnered with global sustainable fashion innovation platform Fashion for Good on a new pilot scheme that aims to tackle the issue of plastic polybag waste in the fashion industry.
Can we recycle polyester?
In Conversation with CuRe Technology: How Can We Create a Fully Circular Polyester Chain?
Other Projects
NGTI
Next Gen Transition Initiative (NGTI) is a collaborative structure led by Fashion for Good and Canopy, aiming to scale next-generation materials by addressing their cost barriers. The initiative pilots a premium decoupling model to finance material price premiums and enable cost parity across the supply chain. Its purpose is to create an industry-backed framework that accelerates the adoption of lower-impact materials and supports a systemic shift in the fashion sector.
Fiber Club
Fashion for Good’s Fiber Club unites brands and innovators to fast-track the use of sustainable materials in the fashion sector. These partnerships offer brands early access to cutting-edge fibres, ensuring beneficial supply agreements and easier incorporation into their supply chains. Fiber Club aims to not only shift the cost structure but to help align brands in a very fragmented and competitive industry.
Advanced Processing Matrix
The Advanced Processing Matrix (APM) aims to continue Fashion for Good’s efforts to accelerate the shift from wet to mostly dry processing in the fashion industry by validating innovative textile processing technologies with potential to drive CO₂e reduction, alongside improvements in water and chemical usage. The tool serves as the knowledge resource for Future Forward Factories aiming to transform facilities into near Net-0.
