Fast Retailing signs microfibre commitment

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Sep 28, 2021

Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing said on Tuesday that it has signed the Microfibre 2030 Commitment, the new global initiative to minimise the impact of microfibres on the natural environment. 

It was set up by non-profit, international cross-industry group The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) to address the problem of fibre fragmentation from clothing textiles. Microfibres, once hailed as a major innovation for apparel, are now seen as a big problem for the industry due to their impact on the environment.

The Commitment aims to eliminate that environmental impact with 250 companies joining as signatories by 2030. 

Ads

Fast Retailing said these companies “will conduct tests on their products and manufacturing processes, and contribute data to build an industry-wide database and assessment system. The objective is to have 80% of member companies adopt research-based microfibre standards in their products and manufacturing processes, so that the release of microfibres into the environment is appropriately managed”.

The company itself will conduct prescribed fabric testing annually through 2023 and provide the data to TMC. It said it “considers the environmental impact of microfibres to be a priority issue” and will “continue to work with the industry and enhance measures” to minimise their release into the environment throughout the product lifecycle.