Our Blog contains intentionally selected news articles and topics related to Circular Materials, and a short account of our point of view.
This article speaks to the lack of infrastructure for biodegradable plastics. While this article discussions plastics, and not textiles, there are a lot of similarities between the two in limitations around biodegradability.
Read The Guardian’s article: Plastic alternatives may worsen marine pollution, MPs warn
”Compostable and biodegradable plastics could add to marine pollution because there is no infrastructure in place to make sure they break down correctly, a committee of MPs has warned.”
There is currently no system in the world that exists that can identify and biodegrade textiles for apparel. The Circular Materials framework is designed to drive brands and designers toward materials that are able to realistically get back into the system and to encourage producers to create materials that can get back into the system. At this time, biodegradability is currently out of scope as a viable end of use pathway for Circular Materials.
“Neither do composting facilities know how to distinguish between a biodegradable garment and a non-biodegradable one. “There’s a huge difference between preparing something for biodegradability and the plausibility of it actually happening,” Gullingsrud added. ‘The system’s not set up for it.’”
The goal of Circular Materials are to create systemic change throughout the industry and environment and bring our production more in balance with the planet. The vision of Circular Materials in the energy category is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases going into the environment as a result of fiber production. Since Carbon Offsetting can not guarantee a reduction of greenhouse gases in the environment, this is currently out of scope for Circular Materials.
Read Fashion Revolution’s article: Is Carbon offsetting the answer?