The environmental sustainability promoting NGO, Redress, has recently launched the R Cert recycled textile clothing standard, a verification standard that aims to educate consumers about the recycling process and the environmental savings achieved through the production of their recycled textile clothing.
The certification, which verifies that a brand has recycled its own pre-consumer textile waste into their new recycled textile clothing using a minimum of 20 percent recycled fibres, will enable the buyers to track their recycled textile garment’s journey, right from factory to retail, through a QR code scan attached to the apparel’s hangtag.
The founder of the NGO, Christina Dean, informs, “The R Cert injects clarity for consumers about the recycling process and enhances consumers’ knowledge and appetite for recycled textile clothing. Our research shows that consumers show a preference towards wearing pre-consumer recycled textile clothing but they claim to lack access to this in the market.”
“Meanwhile, more brands are showing interest in using recycled fibres in their collections. The R Cert responds to these consumer and industry needs,” she explains.
The first clothing line to receive the certification is the newly released Recycled Collection by Esprit A/W 2014 line, designed by the sustainable fashion designer and EcoChic Design Award 2013 winner, Karen Jessen.
“Our launch alongside Esprit is a significant step for recycled textiles, which are widely thought to be a viable contender for the future of the mainstream sustainable fashion industry,” said Redress’ Dean.
Available online and in stores across nine markets in Asia and Europe, the Esprit line features eight denim styles made using 43 percent recycled denim fabrics and five jersey looks crafted from 35 percent recycled textiles.
An independent environmental audit conducted by RESET Carbon on each of the denim garments production revealed that there was about 37 percent savings in greenhouse gases, 19 percent in water and 17 percent in electricity consumption. These figures were based on an internal assessment from cradle-to-garment-gate.
The third party audit also informed that the manufacturing of the jersey apparels in the line also saw a reduced consumption of greenhouse gases by 37 percent, water by 74 percent and electricity by 18 percent on each piece. The greenhouse gas, electricity and water footprint were based on an internal assessment from fibre-to-garment-gate.
Josep Sabate, the Head of Global Quality Management and Sustainability, Esprit, also revealed in a statement, “We are proud to use the R Cert for the third Recycled Collection by Esprit. This collection represents a small but significant step in our continued move back to our original brand roots of providing sustainable fashion options to our consumers.”
“We value the R Cert as a form of transparent communications with our consumers about this relatively new recycling process. As a third party verification, something we know consumers respond well to, the R Cert helps us to communicate this important information with clarity,” added Sabate.
Redress promotes environmental sustainability in the fashion industry by reducing textile waste, pollution, water and energy consumption via educational sustainable fashion competitions, shows, exhibitions, seminars, research and by a recycled textile clothing standard.
According to the 12th five-year plan from the Government of China, there are plans to establish and improve the recovery of recycled fibre textiles, and by 2015 to increase recycled fibre use to about 15 percent. This demonstrates a broader push to promote recycled textiles. In support of this, the R Cert helps brands to reach this market opportunity, as it unites consumer knowledge with supply chain innovation. (PB)
