More than 70 organisations – including adidas, Patagonia, Kering, Helly Hansen, Finisterre, Jack Wolfskin, Hohenstein and, most recently, British recycling charity WRAP – are already signatories, TMC announced recently.

The objective behind asking the industry to back the commitment is tied to funnelling companies into what TMC described as a sustained programme of proactive and collaborative cross-industry work, aligned with its new Microfibre Roadmap (pictured).

Intended to “set the pace of activity for working towards zero impact from fibre fragmentation to the natural environment by 2030”, the roadmap has three interconnected pathways for achieving TMC’s mission by specific timescales: aligning the sector, understanding fragmentation and mitigating fragmentation. The initiative launched via an online event on September 21.

Significantly, all signatories are now required to undertake specified levels of materials testing on an annual basis for the first three years of the scheme, which they must then share via the group’s own data portal.

The intention behind this is to boost the amount of relevant data available by way of the portal, from which unspecified “practical industry tools and resources” will be created in accordance with the targets outlined by the 2030 roadmap.

On top of annual financial and/or in-kind support, participating enterprises will also commit to implementing microfibre mitigation actions along their own supply chains, TMC said, in addition to acting as industry ambassadors to “embed best practice across the textiles sector”.

The organisation’s executive director, Sophie Mather, commented: “Now marks the point where we shift gears. 10 years ago, the textile sector started to recognise microfibre pollution as a topic of concern.

“With the launch of the Microfibre 2030 Commitment and Roadmap, we enter a new stage of global alignment. We call on the wider industry to join our transparent and collaborative platform, which brings together the expertise, data and focus now needed to achieve impact at the necessary scale and pace.”

Ms Mather further added that the fact that TMC has been able to switch up its membership model – and with “such strong support” – underscores how keenly enterprises up and down the value chain recognise not only the importance, but also the “urgency”, of making such a commitment.

Interested companies who have not yet signed up may contact 2030@microfibreconsortium.com.

Image: TMC.