Sustainability
Future Fabrics Virtual Expo
The Future Fabrics Virtual Expo showcases individually selected sustainable fabrics that are an alternative to today’s most used textiles, which are predominantly made from polyester and conventional cotton fibres.
The production and processing of textiles are polluting water, air, and soil, wasting energy and natural resources, and impact upon human health as a result of being in contact with toxic substances.
A diverse range of natural and man-made materials suitable for mid to high end, mainstream, and independent fashion companies have been chosen to showcase on the Future Fabrics Virtual Expo, which are selected according to our sourcing guidelines, quality, design, and innovation. These fabrics demonstrate an on-going commitment to improved performance across the supply chain, which includes fibre cultivation, and processing, spinning, weaving, knitting, bleaching, dyeing and finishing. All individual fabrics are provided with background information on how they have been produced with a reduced environmental impact.
The materials address the following environmental principles, and in addition, ethical and local production, recycled materials, and entirely certified supply chains are taken into consideration.
Indicative Sourcing Guidelines
To act as indicative guidelines to introduce key environmental issues, The Sustainable Angle have developed a number of criteria which are used to select materials in curating the Future Fabrics Expo. These criteria recognise some of the most pressing resource issues and environmental impacts that relate to the fashion supply chain. We work with best-practice suppliers and innovators who demonstrate positive action in one or more of the following areas:
Biodiversity
Natural source materials grown using organic and regenerative agricultural practices that respect and support biodiversity in soil, on land and in water. This includes raw material sources and practices that preserve high value ecosystems, such as ancient and endangered forests, also recognising the importance of communities that act as custodians of such ecosystems.
Energy
Materials suppliers that use renewable energy, or demonstrate concrete action to decouple from, or transition away from the use of fossil fuels, both as a raw material and energy source for production processes. Important recognition is given to materials grown within regenerative agricultural practices, avoiding petrochemical-based fertilizers.
Chemicals
Materials produced by eliminating hazardous chemicals (such as ZDHC MRSL compliant) and prioritise the removal of petrochemicals from cleaning, dyeing, printing and finishing processes. Suppliers demonstrate proactive action in clean-up initiatives and the responsible management of effluents and exemplary water protocols; this may include programmes that improve water quality and community access to clean water.
Social Justice
Materials suppliers that demonstrate initiatives and programmes that align with fair trade principles, pay a living wage and respect the health, well- being and voice of the communities that provide their workforce. Positive initiatives include investment in community programmes that support health and education. Includes suppliers that demonstrate recognition of the significance of local communities that act as custodians of the local biosphere, actively preserving raw material sources and high-value ecosystems.
Water
Materials created in systems that reduce, recycle, reuse and treat water to ensure water courses and ground water are not depleted or polluted. Suppliers demonstrate the use of progressive methods and technologies to significantly reduce water inputs across the textile supply chain. This may include programmes that improve water quality and community access to clean water.
Waste
Materials produced by reducing or eliminating waste at every stage of the textile production process. Suppliers demonstrate exemplary recycling and re-use practices following circular models and cradle 2 cradle principles. Recognises materials that are created by optimising the value locked in to agricultural, industrial and both pre-consumer and post-consumer waste streams.
Animal Welfare
Materials produced from suppliers that demonstrate high animal welfare standards, respecting the Five Domains (ref: Textile Exchange) of farmed animals, or responsible herding practices that prioritise both animal and ecosystem welfare. Includes suppliers who demonstrate wildlife friendly habitat and ecosystem diversity practices, both on the farm and in the surrounding ecosystems. Incorporates standards that go beyond land management to maintain animal welfare, productivity and consideration of soil health and wider biodiversity.
Traceability
Suppliers that can provide transparent proof of supply chain traceability from raw material through to their finished product, either through the use of digital markers tracked with technologies such as block chain, a third party verified certification, or transparent disclosure of supplier networks. The positive benefits of local supply chain networks are recognised through the development regional fibre systems that build ecosystem and community health.
On some qualities you may also see the symbols below:
SWAP
This indicates that within the blend of fibres there may be a percentage of non-preferred fibre. The supplier offers the opportunity to replace conventional fibre content for responsibly produced alternatives (e.g. organic cotton, closed-loop regenerated or recycled fibres).
ATTENTION !
The material blend has a high percentage of conventional fibre content, however, the quality was selected because the manufacturer demonstrates either the use of innovative sustainable fibres, implementation of new technologies, or a difference in processing techniques that reduce its overall impacts.
ATTENTION !
This material blend has a percentage of fibre content from sources that rely on industrial agriculture practices including synthetic chemicals as inputs. However, the quality has been selected because the manufacturer demonstrates either the additional use of innovative sustainable fibres or implementation of new technologies that make a difference in processing techniques to reduce its overall impacts.
Please note: The information presented on our fabric cards and posters are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time the information was produced. Please verify with the supplier before placing orders.