PROJECTS: NEXT-GEN MATERIALS

The Price Parity Toolkit (PPT) was designed to help bridge the price gap between next-gen* and conventional materials. This industry-supported framework, with catalytic funding from Laudes Foundation and developed by Fashion for Good with support from Canopy, Finance Earth and select brands and fibre producers, introduces a financing mechanism. This mechanism aims to decouple price premiums early in the supply chain, thereby enabling the adoption and scaling of lower-impact materials.

The Stretching Circularity Project aims to accelerate the development and adoption of lower-impact elastane solutions for the apparel industry through two workstreams. One workstream focuses on testing next-generation elastane materials made from alternative inputs, including bio-based materials and other feedstocks. The other focuses on testing regenerated elastane made through emerging recycling innovations. Both workstreams follow a pilot-scale validation approach to generate comparable data on performance, impact, economic feasibility and scalability.

“The Next Stride: Bio-based Materials for Footwear Soles” aims to validate the performance and environmental impact of bio-based polymers as sustainable alternatives to the fossil fuel-derived materials currently used in footwear soles. The objective is to collectively de-risk the transition to these “next-generation” materials by rigorously testing their technical properties and assessing environmental benefits. Ultimately, the purpose is to accelerate the adoption of these bio-based solutions and pave the way for a more sustainable footwear industry.

“Beyond50 Denim: Combining Cottonised Hemp And Green Chemistry” aims to validate the performance and environmental impact of cottonised hemp processed with green chemistry to act as a true alternative to cotton in denim applications. The project goal is to evaluate the performance of SEFF’s cottonised hemp fibre in combination with Fibre52’s bio-friendly chemistry solution within denim fabric applications with a total hemp content of 50% and above. The fabrics will be benchmarked against conventional 100% cotton denim with a specific focus on handfeel and aesthetic characteristics.

Cost optimisation is crucial for scaling innovations. By reducing expenses, increasing operational efficiency, and securing high-quality feedstock, innovators can improve profitability and competitiveness. As the industry embarks on new ventures, strategic cost management becomes key to enhancing profitability, improving cash flow, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. As a response to supporting innovators in building out these strategies, FFG has developed “Manufacturing Markets Gateway”, to support innovators with connections to selected industry partners, local exposure, sourcing feedstock opportunities and overall knowledge building.

Scale is unlocked for sustainable innovation only when supply and demand are effectively connected—bringing together innovators, brands, and manufacturers—and when this opportunity is pursued through curated and meaningful partnerships. To achieve scale, careful planning, strong stakeholder engagement, adequate resources, and a flexible approach are essential. Transitioning from the pilot stage to full-scale implementation of sustainable technologies presents several significant challenges. Bridging the gap between small-scale trials and large-scale deployment requires addressing differences in requirements, resources, and complexities. Common issues include scalability concerns, such as adapting technology to increased volumes and integrating it with existing systems and machinery. Limited funding options and unclear implementation strategies also pose barriers, making the scaling process difficult. In response to these challenges, we have developed the Strategic Supplier Initiative (SSI) to support FFG partners and innovators in successfully scaling their sustainable processes.

Fiber Club is an umbrella initiative by Fashion for Good and selected innovators, aimed at enabling faster adoption of next-gen materials, through Innovator specific consortia that provide brands with early and simplified access to an innovator’s materials, secure supply terms, and seamless supply chain integration. By aggregating demand and standardising specifications, the program de-risks innovation for brands and suppliers alike, fostering the market validation necessary for innovators to secure long-term partnerships. Fiber Club aims to not only shift the cost structure but to help align brands in a very fragmented and competitive industry.

The aim of the project was to test and validate the technical feasibility of the different PHA polymer and composite resins to make mono and multifilament fibres. Fashion for Good worked with the Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI) to run the melt spinning trials to allow for a comparative evaluation. The initial scope of the project also included end of use testing including degradation testing. However the project partners decided to prioritise additional spinning trials over degradation testing.

The aim of the project was to explore the use of agricultural residues to produce natural fibres, reducing reliance on conventional fibres like cotton. Building on the findings of the Laudes Foundation commissioned report ‘Spinning Future Threads’.

The aim of the pilot was to test and refine Materra’s technology to grow extra long staple cotton at a pilot farm, as historically this variety of cotton has not been grown in large volumes in this region due to specific climatic requirements for cultivation.

This project focused on reusable packaging in the fashion e-commerce industry. It examined the environmental impact of transitioning from single-use to reusable packaging solutions, aiming to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions. The study highlighted the variables that influence the viability of reusable packaging and offers insights on implementation and scaling strategies.

The London Polybag Collection Scheme Pilot aimed to address the low recycling rates of polybags used in the fashion industry by trialling a scalable recycling infrastructure for collecting and processing polybag waste into new materials.

The aim of the project was to explore and validate bio-based, home-compostable polybags. To assess their suitability as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-based plastic packaging, addressing the fashion industry’s plastic waste problem.

The aim of the pilot was to tackle the environmental issues caused by virgin polybags in the fashion industry. This industry-first pilot aimed to create a closed-loop recycling solution for polybags, using post-consumer polybag waste and achieving a high level of recycled content suitable for industry needs.

The aim of the pilot was to develop and test the next generation of mycelium-based alternatives to leather and foam materials. This project, spanning from December 2021 to March 2024, involved collaboration with major fashion brands to create sustainable materials suitable for consumer goods.

This pilot aimed to test, refine, and scale Treekind®, an alternative to animal and synthetic leathers made from green waste. The project focused on assessing the material’s performance, scalability, and manufacturing capabilities.

The aim of the Full Circle Textiles Project – Polyester (FCTP-P) is to validate and scale promising technologies in polyester chemical recycling and to encourage financing and offtake commitments in the fashion industry. The project builds on the framework and lessons of the Full Circle Textiles Project – Cellulosics (FCTP-C), which focused on investigating economically viable and scalable solutions for cellulosic chemical recycling. It brings together a consortium of stakeholders including brands, innovators, supply chain partners and catalytic funders – a structure that has proven successful in driving and scaling disruptive innovation in the industry. This is an ongoing project.

Fashion for Good alumni, Kintra Fibres produces a biopolymer which is a replacement for virgin polyester. Polybutylene succinate or PBS is a biopolymer made using industrial sugarcane as a feedstock, it is also biodegradable in aerobic conditions.

The ambition of the FCTP-C Project was to validate economically viable and scalable promising technologies in cellulosic chemical recycling from a select group of innovators to tackle these issues. Leading global organisations Laudes Foundation, Birla Cellulose, Kering, PVH Corp. and Target joined Fashion for Good to explore the disruptive solutions, with the goal of creating new fibres and garments from used clothing and ultimately drive industry-wide adoption.