Danish ministry announces circular-fashion collab
A total of 10 fashion brands and textile organisations from Denmark have signed up to a ministry of environment-spearheaded sectoral agreement involving a joint commitment to increased recycling and the use of more recycled materials by 2030.
The announcement preceded the launch of Copenhagen fashion week’s spring-summer 2023 edition earlier this month. Moving forward, plans include rolling out the initiative across other Scandinavian countries including Norway, Sweden and Finland as early as next year.
“We have to get away from the use-and-throw-away culture, as characterises the fashion industry today,” commented Danish environment minister, Lea Wermelin. “It resonates in the industry and internationally when Danish textile companies large and small undertake to reduce their climate and environmental footprint. Denmark must be among the leaders in the green transformation of the fashion and textile industry.”
The collaboration is to be led by director of Copenhagen-based brand Aiayu, Maria Glaesel. "My wish is that we can bring industry players together for common goals and exchange experiences that lead to action," she said. "Only together can we meet the major challenges facing the industry. It is important that the environment minister supports [us], because the transition will also require structural changes.”
Aside from Aiayu, the other nine participants are Bestseller, DK Company, Salling Group, Ganni, JYSK, Dansk Wilton, Mammut Hoffman, Trendsales, Green Cotton, Dansk Mode and Textil, Wear (Dansk Erhverv), Lifestyle and Design Cluster (LDC), and Milijøstyrelsen.
Next steps include the preparation of action plans, which industry players can choose to build upon further down the line. Key will be the creation of a sector-wide baseline for data, so progress may be monitored and measured more accurately.
UK non-governmental organisation WRAP, which stands for Waste and Resources Action Programme, praised the agreement as trailblazing and drew attention to its own role in helping to bring together local bodies alongside the LDC, comments which were echoed by the cluster's chief executive, Bettina Simenson.
“WRAP has played an integral role in convening the key stakeholders who are launching this ground-breaking initiative and by sharing their extensive experience of voluntary-sector collaborations with us,” Ms Simenson stated. “We will be drawing on their knowledge and technical expertise to help us go further and faster in Denmark."
Image: Green Cotton.
