18 January 2018: More than 60 global fashion companies have set targets in support of a more sustainable fashion industry including transitioning towards a more circular fashion system. The targets address actions to foster circular design strategies and to increase the volume of garments that are collected, resold and reused.

Following a commitment made in May 2017 at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit to support the fashion industry’s transition to a circular economy model, 64 international fashion companies have set targets to support the development of circular fashion strategies by 2020. The participating companies commit to actions in four areas: implementing design strategies for cyclability; increasing the volume of garments collected; increasing the volume of garments resold; and increasing the share of garments made from recycled post-consumer textile fibers.

The participating companies submitted a total of 143 individual targets, with many focusing on increased training and research for circular design strategies or implementing circular design principles. Targets in the other categories provide for specific quantities or shares of garments collected, resold and recycled.

The companies represent approximately 7.5% of the global fashion market, including popular brands such as adidas, Zara, Hugo Boss, H&M, Lacoste, Target and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as several luxury brands and labels focusing on sustainable clothing. The individual commitments have been published on the Global Fashion Agenda’s website.

Global Fashion Agenda is a partnership aiming to “mobilize the international fashion industry to transform the way we produce and consume fashion.” The partnership convenes the annual Copenhagen Fashion Summit as a platform to engage with decision makers and creatives in the industry to steer the industry towards “a world beyond next season.” [Global Fashion Agenda Press Release] [2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment] [Global Fashion Agenda Website] [ClimateAction News Story]