Denmark becomes textiles industry frontrunner, amplifying growing international Textiles Action Network

International climate action NGO, WRAP, welcomes the trailblazing new Danish industry collaboration which will bring clothing and textile brands together around common circular goals. Launched ahead of Copenhagen Fashion Week, the collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the development of a global network of countries working to make textiles more sustainable.

David Rogers, Head of International Programmes WRAP said: “We welcome this ambitious move by the Danish government to tackle the environmental impacts of textiles with a national programme of work under this new industry collaboration. WRAP has played an important role in bringing together the key stakeholders who are launching this groundbreaking international initiative, sharing our extensive experience of voluntary sector collaborations and of setting circularity goals. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to support our partner Lifestyle & Design Cluster (LDC) in bringing together businesses and institutions in Denmark.”

Betina Simenson, CEO of Lifestyle & Design Cluster said: “With the Danish sector collaboration, we are building the foundation for a long lasting private-public partnership. We have set three initial goals, but this is just the start – now the work begins.

It is crucial that the Danish industry moves in the same direction when it comes to the circular transition. We are facing massive legal requirements from the EU and by joining together on common goals now, the Danish companies will be ready to meet the requirements, yes, maybe even be ahead. Therefore, we invited the entire Danish industry to support the partnership and hope to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across the sector.

WRAP has played an integral role in convening the key stakeholders who are launching this ground- breaking international initiative and sharing their extensive experience of voluntary sector collaborations with us. We look forward to working closely with them and will be drawing on their knowledge and technical expertise to help us to go further and faster in Denmark.”

The Textiles Action Network aims to become the first international framework tackling the huge environmental impacts caused by fashion and textiles. It encompasses the UK’s Textiles 2030 and now LDC, who will be representing the interests of the Danish industry collaboration

The Textiles Action Network brings together businesses, supply chains and governments to work towards one clear goal – to create a circular economy for fashion and textiles. WRAP believes this network will become the most effective way of driving progress towards a truly global circular economy for textiles to both reduce its impacts on the environment and put businesses ahead of increasingly strict regulatory requirements.

Why this news is important

• The environmental impact of fashion worldwide requires urgent action. The fashion industry (apparel and footwear) accounts for between 5 and 10% of global pollution impacts. Specifically it’s a significant contributor to dangerous climate change where studies put it at between 4 and 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• This is the first international initiative to unite key stakeholders under three clear circularity goals at a national level, which can be replicated around the globe. The goals include making clothes last longer, using more recycled materials and adopting innovative approaches to selling clothing, (e.g subscription rental models).
• Governments and industry worldwide need a proven, co-ordinated way of delivering change that connects government, industry leaders and existing initiatives and which will ensure they can benchmark and track their progress.
• There is significant interest and reach with this new approach. WRAP is working on similar initiatives in Australia and there is interest globally from Europe, South Africa and Latin America.
• WRAP has extensive experience of delivering systematic change across a number of sectors through Voluntary Agreements including the UK’s Courtauld Commitment 2030, UK Plastic Pact and Textiles 2030 as well as with international partners currently working through the Indian Plastics Pact, the Mexico Voluntary Food Agreement and in Indonesia and South Africa.
• Fashion brands want to go further and faster in their sustainability goals. Globally, they are partnering with recyclers, manufacturers and clothing retailers to change the fashion system from a linear take-make-dispose model to one where clothing is used for longer and recycled at the end of its usable life.
• These collaborative agreements, working with policymakers in national governments, are the most powerful and successful way of creating change. 
  • The Danish fashion sector collaboration, is sponsored and driven by the Danish Ministry of Environment and Environmental Protection Agency.
  • The Australian government has commissioned the planning of a product stewardship scheme for clothing and textiles in a collaborative process with the sector.
  • The Catalan government launched an agreement for circular clothing in May 2022 spanning large international businesses with a presence in the region and the many smaller clothing and textiles businesses there.
  • The UK’s Textiles 2030 agreement has achieved 62% market coverage since it began in April 2021.

Mireia Cañellas Grifoll, Head of the Sustainable Development Unit at Generalitat de Catalunya said: “After food, housing and transport, the global consumption of textile products is the fourth largest consumer of raw materials and water and the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases: Profound changes are urgently needed in the textile sector’s model of production and consumption, so that we can move towards a circular, more sustainable model.

“The Circular Fashion Agreement: a response proposed by Catalonia to further the transition of the textile sector to a circular model. It is based on a comprehensive perspective that brings together all public and private stakeholders in the value chain.

“WRAPs experience has been inspiring: WRAP has shared with us useful tips and tricks on partnering and how to develop a shared agenda. WRAP’s knowledge and experience can surely benefit others developing similar experiences.”

Omer Soker, CEO, Charitable Recycling Australia: “Charitable Recycling Australia members divert over a million tonnes of waste from landfill, saving 880,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and raising almost a billion dollars a year for social good. Our partnership with WRAP has provided world leading expertise in textile solutions, circularity and is supporting the development of an Australian National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme through the Australian Fashion Council led consortium. WRAP has also been instrumental in providing a catalyst for clothing textile stakeholders to collaborate in a coordinated plan and feel supported globally in respect of bringing a new approach to textiles through a circular economy lens.”

David Rogers is available for interviews about WRAP, the work we are doing globally and the ambitions of the Textiles Action Network and how this will drive action across other countries. Senior Business Account Manager for Textiles 2030, Clare Carroll is also available for interview in person during Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Following this exciting launch in Denmark, WRAP continues to drive change in both taking action against climate change and sustainability, and supporting governments, businesses and citizens across the globe. WRAP is dedicated to working in partnership across the globe and supporting countries to deliver on their sustainability goals. Continuing our work globally/WRAP continues its global mission/work globally with the launch of our Asia-Pacific office in Adelaide, Australia on 1 September 2022. Please contact our Media team for details about the launch and any interview/media requests at [email protected]