Press release

New €3.6 million textiles project to be launched across Europe

21st October 2015

A new project led by WRAP launches today which aims to increase environmental and economic benefits by reducing the carbon, water and waste footprints of clothing in the EU.

To reduce clothing waste, the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP), a €3.6 million EU Life funded pilot project, will work with brands, retailers, manufacturers, reuse and recycling organisations, charities and consumers to:

  • Design and specify products for longer life and closed loop production
  • ensure that less clothing goes to incineration and landfill
  • encourage consumers to buy less clothing and use it for longer
  • improve innovation in resource-efficient design and service models to encourage business growth in the sector.

‘The three year project involves WRAP working in partnership with MADE-BY, Rijkswaterstaat (part of the Dutch ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment), Danish Fashion Institute and LWARB to divert over 90 thousand tonnes per year of clothing waste from landfill and incineration across Europe by March 2019.’

To achieve this, ECAP, which is based on the principles of WRAP’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) in the UK, will ask signatories to the agreement to measure success against a set of ambitious targets.

The initial countries that ECAP will be active in are Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK, and there are further plans to expand into other countries in Europe and Asia.

Dr Liz Goodwin OBE, CEO, WRAP said:

“Finding more sustainable ways to work with textiles is an area set to deliver huge benefits – both economic and environmental. To be leading on a project of this magnitude is something I am very excited about, and applying tried and tested approaches such as voluntary agreements and consumer campaigns across Europe, will really take our expertise to the next level. I look forward watching this initiative progress”.

Allanna McAspurn, CEO, MADE-BY said:

“It is MADE-BY’s mission to make sustainable fashion common practice and we are delighted to have the opportunity to use our 11 years of experience working with brands and retailers to help create a framework for sustainable fashion across Europe”.

Arjan de Zeeuw, Director of Environment, Rijkswaterstaat, said:

“In the Netherlands Rijkswaterstaat is working on the Dutch national program From Waste to Resource. This program will give a boost to the circular economy, recycling and resource efficiency in several supply chains. One of the priorities is textiles, which can set an example for other supply chains. The textiles supply chain is operating on a global scale, international cooperation will strengthen the activities of all stakeholders towards sustainability.”

Jonas Eder-Hansen, VP & Development Director, Danish Fashion Institute, said:

“Up to 80% of a garment’s environmental impact is decided in the design phase. Only few designers and product developers realise their potential to create sustainable change through their decision. As part of ECAP, DAFI is excited to create an online learning platform for designers and product developers to fulfil their potential and design for longevity. The results will build on DAFI’s long tradition for working with designers through its Fashion Source library of eco and innovative materials.”

Wayne Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer, LWARB, said:

“London’s participation in this project presents a hugely exciting opportunity for the capital to be recognised as a sustainable fashion hub with its thriving fashion industry, world-leading educational establishments for designers, stylists, fashion journalists and photographers, a huge uniformed workforce and some of the most switched-on consumers in Europe. LWARB is delighted to be involved to test and showcase what works, learn from others and then share our experience with other large European cities.”

Follow @ECAP_EU, visit www.ecap.eu.com, sign up to receive newsletter or for more information, please contact ecap@wrap.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
1. About WRAP

WRAP’s vision is a world where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership with governments, businesses, trade bodies, local authorities, communities and individuals looking for practical advice to improve resource efficiency that delivers both economic and environmental benefits.

Our mission is to accelerate the move to a sustainable resource-efficient economy through:

a. re-inventing how we design, produce and sell products,

b. re-thinking how we use and consume products, and

c. re-defining what is possible through re-use and recycling.

First established in 2000, WRAP is a registered charity. WRAP works with UK governments and other funders to help deliver their policies on waste prevention and resource efficiency. WRAP is a registered Charity No 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No 4125764. Registered office at Second Floor, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5BH.

Find out more about our work in our five year plan.

2. About Danish Fashion Institute

Danish Fashion Institute (DAFI) is a network organisation established for and by the Danish fashion industry in 2005. Besides working to push Danish fashion forward and organising Copenhagen Fashion Week twice a year, DAFI has since 2008 been a pioneer within the field of sustainability. Every other year, DAFI organizes the renowned international Copenhagen Fashion Summit that gathers industry professionals, politicians, experts, and NGO’s from across the globe to discuss visions and challenges for a sustainable fashion industry.

3. About LWARB

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), chaired by Richard Tracey AM, working in conjunction with the Mayor of London and London Councils, has a remit to improve waste management in the capital. For more information on LWARB visit www.lwarb.gov.uk.

4. About MADE-BY

MADE-BY – Founded in 2004, MADE-BY is an award-winning European not-for-profit organisation, acting to improve environmental and social conditions within the fashion industry. It is MADE-BY’s mission to ‘Make Sustainable Fashion Common Practice’ and they have worked with over 100 brands, retailers and sector bodies on bespoke consultancy, policy advice, and through their industry leading performance tracking tool MODE Tracker. In 2013 MADE-BY won Consultancy of the Year at the UK Guardian Sustainable Business Awards.

For more information see www.made-by.org or contact info@made-by.org +31 (0)20 5230666.

5. About Rijkswaterstaat

Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Dutch ministry of Infrastructure and Environment working on a sustainable environment. Rijkswaterstaat develops and implements policies for sustainable waste management and resource efficiency.

6. About EU Life

The ECAP project is supported with the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community.

New €3.6 million textiles project to be launched across Europe

21st October 2015

A new project led by WRAP launches today which aims to increase environmental and economic benefits by reducing the carbon, water and waste footprints of clothing in the EU.

To reduce clothing waste, the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP), a €3.6 million EU Life funded pilot project, will work with brands, retailers, manufacturers, reuse and recycling organisations, charities and consumers to:

  • Design and specify products for longer life and closed loop production
  • ensure that less clothing goes to incineration and landfill
  • encourage consumers to buy less clothing and use it for longer
  • improve innovation in resource-efficient design and service models to encourage business growth in the sector.

‘The three year project involves WRAP working in partnership with MADE-BY, Rijkswaterstaat (part of the Dutch ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment), Danish Fashion Institute and LWARB to divert over 90 thousand tonnes per year of clothing waste from landfill and incineration across Europe by March 2019.’

To achieve this, ECAP, which is based on the principles of WRAP’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) in the UK, will ask signatories to the agreement to measure success against a set of ambitious targets.

The initial countries that ECAP will be active in are Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK, and there are further plans to expand into other countries in Europe and Asia.

Dr Liz Goodwin OBE, CEO, WRAP said:

“Finding more sustainable ways to work with textiles is an area set to deliver huge benefits – both economic and environmental. To be leading on a project of this magnitude is something I am very excited about, and applying tried and tested approaches such as voluntary agreements and consumer campaigns across Europe, will really take our expertise to the next level. I look forward watching this initiative progress”.

Allanna McAspurn, CEO, MADE-BY said:

“It is MADE-BY’s mission to make sustainable fashion common practice and we are delighted to have the opportunity to use our 11 years of experience working with brands and retailers to help create a framework for sustainable fashion across Europe”.

Arjan de Zeeuw, Director of Environment, Rijkswaterstaat, said:

“In the Netherlands Rijkswaterstaat is working on the Dutch national program From Waste to Resource. This program will give a boost to the circular economy, recycling and resource efficiency in several supply chains. One of the priorities is textiles, which can set an example for other supply chains. The textiles supply chain is operating on a global scale, international cooperation will strengthen the activities of all stakeholders towards sustainability.”

Jonas Eder-Hansen, VP & Development Director, Danish Fashion Institute, said:

“Up to 80% of a garment’s environmental impact is decided in the design phase. Only few designers and product developers realise their potential to create sustainable change through their decision. As part of ECAP, DAFI is excited to create an online learning platform for designers and product developers to fulfil their potential and design for longevity. The results will build on DAFI’s long tradition for working with designers through its Fashion Source library of eco and innovative materials.”

Wayne Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer, LWARB, said:

“London’s participation in this project presents a hugely exciting opportunity for the capital to be recognised as a sustainable fashion hub with its thriving fashion industry, world-leading educational establishments for designers, stylists, fashion journalists and photographers, a huge uniformed workforce and some of the most switched-on consumers in Europe. LWARB is delighted to be involved to test and showcase what works, learn from others and then share our experience with other large European cities.”

Follow @ECAP_EU, visit www.ecap.eu.com, sign up to receive newsletter or for more information, please contact ecap@wrap.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
1. About WRAP

WRAP’s vision is a world where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership with governments, businesses, trade bodies, local authorities, communities and individuals looking for practical advice to improve resource efficiency that delivers both economic and environmental benefits.

Our mission is to accelerate the move to a sustainable resource-efficient economy through:

a. re-inventing how we design, produce and sell products,

b. re-thinking how we use and consume products, and

c. re-defining what is possible through re-use and recycling.

First established in 2000, WRAP is a registered charity. WRAP works with UK governments and other funders to help deliver their policies on waste prevention and resource efficiency. WRAP is a registered Charity No 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No 4125764. Registered office at Second Floor, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5BH.

Find out more about our work in our five year plan.

2. About Danish Fashion Institute

Danish Fashion Institute (DAFI) is a network organisation established for and by the Danish fashion industry in 2005. Besides working to push Danish fashion forward and organising Copenhagen Fashion Week twice a year, DAFI has since 2008 been a pioneer within the field of sustainability. Every other year, DAFI organizes the renowned international Copenhagen Fashion Summit that gathers industry professionals, politicians, experts, and NGO’s from across the globe to discuss visions and challenges for a sustainable fashion industry.

3. About LWARB

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), chaired by Richard Tracey AM, working in conjunction with the Mayor of London and London Councils, has a remit to improve waste management in the capital. For more information on LWARB visit www.lwarb.gov.uk.

4. About MADE-BY

MADE-BY – Founded in 2004, MADE-BY is an award-winning European not-for-profit organisation, acting to improve environmental and social conditions within the fashion industry. It is MADE-BY’s mission to ‘Make Sustainable Fashion Common Practice’ and they have worked with over 100 brands, retailers and sector bodies on bespoke consultancy, policy advice, and through their industry leading performance tracking tool MODE Tracker. In 2013 MADE-BY won Consultancy of the Year at the UK Guardian Sustainable Business Awards.

For more information see www.made-by.org or contact info@made-by.org +31 (0)20 5230666.

5. About Rijkswaterstaat

Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Dutch ministry of Infrastructure and Environment working on a sustainable environment. Rijkswaterstaat develops and implements policies for sustainable waste management and resource efficiency.

6. About EU Life

The ECAP project is supported with the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Community.