Fashion and Textile Industry Collaborates on Circular Transformation
In August 2022, the then Danish Minister of Environment, Lea Wermelin, announced the establishment of a sector collaboration between the ministry, ten companies, and three organizations. The purpose was to engage a broader segment of the Danish fashion and textile industry in pursuing common circular objectives by 2030. Today, this initiative has expanded to include about 50 companies, with new participants continuously joining.
Stay Ahead of Future Requirements
The fashion and textile industry faces increasing demands regarding clothing and textile products, and future legislation is expected to place greater responsibility for circular design and materials on manufacturers. By participating in the Sector Collaboration, companies have the opportunity to stay ahead of these upcoming requirements and gain insights into the textile agenda. Through this collaboration, all Danish fashion and textile companies can participate in knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences, thereby ensuring joint progress and action.
Circular Goals Based on International Principles
The collaboration is structured around three main goals founded on international principles of circular economy:
- Increased Revenue from Resale: A larger portion of revenue in Denmark’s clothing sector will come from resale, with garments being kept in use as long as possible.
- Common Circular Design Requirements: Establishment of common circular design criteria to ensure that garments from Danish companies are designed for longer life spans and can be integrated into optimal circular loops. These design criteria are created to be applicable to both small and large companies.
- Commitment to Recycled Materials: By 2030, all clothing and textiles from Danish companies will consist of at least 40% recycled material, including at least 10% recycled directly from textile fibers. This commitment aligns with the EU’s textile strategy, particularly regarding the use of food-grade PET plastic. The percentage of recycled material is calculated as an average for each company.
Steering Committee and Secretariat
A steering committee with broad representation from the Danish fashion and textile industry governs the Sector Collaboration. Additionally, three working groups have been established, each focusing on one of the set goals. These groups play a central role in defining the goals more precisely, promoting recycling solutions and circular business models, establishing common design principles, and exchanging solutions for recycled materials.
To drive progress and involve stakeholders, a secretariat for the Sector Collaboration has been established at Lifestyle & Design Cluster. The secretariat constantly works to get as many actors as possible in the fashion and textile industry to participate in the circular transition.
Activities in the Sector Collaboration
All signatories are invited to actively participate in the three working groups, choosing those they find interesting and relevant to them. These groups develop sub-goals, definitions, and much more and present these recommendations to the steering committee, which initiates new activities to support achieving the overall goals of the Sector Collaboration.
Sector Collaboration’s Action Plan Towards 2030
In the Sector Collaboration, we use our action plan as a compass to guide us safely to our destination by 2030. This plan includes the three main goals and associated sub-goals and is regularly revised and adjusted to ensure compliance with legislative developments. You can find the action plan and its appendices below.
Participation in the Sector Collaboration
All Danish fashion and textile companies are invited to participate in the Sector Collaboration. However, to ensure that the collaboration is effective and the goals are achieved, it is crucial that the participating companies have the ability to report reliable data on their progress.
Data reporting is necessary to monitor progress towards the set goals and to assess the effectiveness of the implemented strategies. It is only through data collection that we can stay updated on whether we are on the right path towards achieving our circular ambitions. Therefore, it is expected that all participating companies commit to collecting and sharing data related to the specific goals of the Sector Collaboration.
Mood pictures from the sector cooperation summit
The Sector Collaboration is in collaboration with:
Join us
The Sector Collaboration is open to all Danish textile producers and design companies, both new and resale actors, as well as service companies facilitating resale. If your company aligns with the shared goals and wishes to participate in the exciting work of how we achieve them, please sign up below.
Cooperation agreement
When registering, you must approve a cooperation agreement. The goals in the agreement must be a guiding star for the members’ individual and joint striving for more circular materials, design and consumption.
The agreement is voluntary and not legally binding.
Once you have confirmed your participation in the sector collaboration, your logo and company name will appear on the website.
The Sector Collaboration has an advisory board appointed by the Ministry of Environment. Lifestyle & Design Cluster serves as the secretariat for the collaboration.
The advisory board comprises companies within the fashion and textile industry, collectively representing over half of the Danish turnover in the sector.
List of Advisory Board Members
- Maria Glæsel, Aiayu (chair person)
- Thomas Klausen, Danish Fashion & Textiles
- Marie Mustelin, Danish Chamberof Commerce, WEAR
- Jacob Gullak Andersen, Confederation of Danish Industry
- Betina Simonsen, Lifestyle & Design Cluster
- Dorte Rye Olsen, Bestseller
- Jens Obel, DK-Company
- Jette Radich, Salling Group
- Laurits Vestergaard, JYSK
- Søren Sonne, Dansk Wilton
- Helle Nybo Holmberg, Nybo Workwear A/S
- Mads Aarøe Mathiesen, Trendsales
- Sanne Nørgaard, Green Cotton
- Thomas Vangsgaard, Spejdersport
- Jacob Gullak Andersen, Confederation of Danish Industry
- and representative from The Ministry of Environment and The Danish Environment Agency.
3 Goals based on circular principles
The cooperation is based on three goals, which are based on international principles of circular economy:
- Before 2030, all clothing and textiles from Danish companies will consist of at least 40 per cent recycled material, including at least 10 per cent. recycled directly from textile fibres. (The use of recycled material must take place within the framework of the EU’s textile strategy, including particularly with regard to food-grade PET plastic. And it is calculated as an average for each company.)
- To create common circular design requirements with a view to clothes from Danish companies being designed to have more lives and to be part of optimal circular circuits. The design requirements must be applicable to both small and large companies.
- A larger part of the turnover on clothes in Denmark comes from resale, and clothes are kept in use as long as possible.
Press Releases
Ministry of Environment, August 8, 2022: New Binding Collaboration to Make Danish Textile Industry Greener
Detailwatch.dk, August 8, 2022: New Collaboration Aims for a More Climate-Friendly Fashion and Textile Industry
DR News, August 8, 2022: Ten Danish Companies Enter Agreement for a Greener Clothing Industry by 2030 | National | DR
Fashion Forum, August 8, 2022: 10 Danish Fashion Companies Forge Collaboration with Ministry of Environment
Børsen, August 8, 2022: Government Aims to Green the Fashion Industry: “Important to Note, It’s Not a Free Pass”
TV2 Lorry, August 10, 2022: 19:30 – Aug 10, 2022 | TV 2 Lorry
Herning Folkeblad, August 9, 2022: Green Focus During Fashion Week: Four Local Clothing Companies Take the Lead | Herning Folkeblad
FashionUnited, August 10, 2022: Denmark’s Ministry of Environment Initiates Circular Movement Among Companies (fashionunited.com)
WRAP, September 9, 2022: Denmark Leads Textile Industry, Amplifying Global Textiles Action Network | WRAP
Go’ Morgen DK, September 11, 2022: Good Morning Denmark: Ten Clothing Companies Aim for Sustainability – Lifestyle • 17 min – TV 2 PLAY
For press inquiries, please contact Steen Ancher
**Press Contact:**
Steen Ancher
Kommunikationsansvarlig
Mobil: 20554399
steen@ldcluster.com
Steen Ancher
Communications Manager
Mobile: 20554399
Email: steen@ldcluster.com
- Betina Simonsen
Direktør
Tlf. 9616 6200
Mobil: 2936 0090
betina@ldcluster.com
- Lone Haumann
Projektleder af GCO og CØ SMV
Mobil: 26232663
lone@ldcluster.com
These companies have agreed to be part of the sector collaboration and actively work towards achieving the goals.
Your company can also join – sign up here.
The Minister of Environment and the fashion and textile industry have launched a partnership working towards a set of common circular objectives by 2030. All companies within the Fashion and Textile industry are invited to participate in this collaboration.
On Monday, August 8, Minister of Environment, Lea Wermelin, announced the start of a sector collaboration between the ministry, 10 companies, and three organizations, with ambitions to engage a larger part of the Danish fashion and textile industry.
Stay Ahead of Future Demands:
There are increasing demands placed on clothing and textile products, and future regulations will put the responsibility for circular design and materials on the manufacturers. This presents an opportunity to stay ahead of the expected requirements and gain deeper insights into the textile agenda. Through the sector collaboration, all Danish companies can participate in knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences, thereby ensuring collective progress and action.
Goals Based on Circular Principles:
The collaboration is built upon three goals grounded in international principles of circular economy:
- By 2030, all clothing and textiles from Danish companies will comprise a minimum of 40% recycled materials, including at least 10% directly sourced from textile fibers. (The use of recycled materials will comply with the framework of the EU’s textile strategy, particularly addressing food-grade PET plastic. These figures will be calculated as averages per company.)
- To establish unified circular design requirements, aimed at ensuring that clothing from Danish companies is designed for extended lifecycles and optimal circular systems. These design criteria will be applicable to both small and large enterprises.
- A larger proportion of Denmark’s clothing revenue will come from resale, promoting the longevity of garment use.
Steering Committee and Secretariat:
A steering committee with broad representation from the Danish fashion and textile industry has been appointed. As an initial step in the sector collaboration, several working groups are established to define objectives more precisely, exchange solutions related to recycled materials, establish common design principles, and contribute to the dissemination of reuse solutions and circular business models.
To ensure progress and stakeholder involvement, a secretariat for the sector collaboration has been established at Lifestyle & Design Cluster. The secretariat aims to encourage as many stakeholders within the fashion and textile industry as possible to partake in the circular transformation.
Activities in the Sector Collaboration:
- The steering committee establishes working groups to support designated initiatives within the sector collaboration. All participating companies can engage in one or more working groups.
- The working groups create sub-goals and recommend them to the steering committee.
- The steering committee initiates new actions that align with achieving the overarching goals of the sector collaboration.
