Resources

WRAP’s work on textiles is focussed on improving the sustainability of products, and particularly on reducing the environmental impact of the full life cycle of products, from cradle to grave.

The potential impact of increasing online resale of products 

The Benefits of Reuse project was originally created in 2011 by WRAP to estimate economic, environmental and social indicators for re-use, for the first time. 

Our latest report conducted on behalf of eBay explores the potential role of reuse in helping people across the UK in the current cost-of-living crisis, and considers the potential environmental and economic benefits to households of buying second hand items through online exchange. 

In autumn 2021, WRAP commissioned two large scale pieces of online consumer research on the life expectancy of different items of clothing in UK wardrobes and the UK’s appetite for adopting new models of clothing acquisition – some of which discard the notion of owning clothes all together.

This report from WRAP and the University of Leeds builds on previous research to provide a quantitative assessment of possible policy interventions to reduce resource consumption and green house gas emissions associated with their production.

The Resource Action Fund (RAF) was an £18 million fund, provided by Defra to support resource efficiency projects, with the goal of diverting, reducing, and better managing waste. The Resource Action Fund The funding supported organisations in England which aimed to reduce waste and make better use of materials.

The Resource Action Fund (RAF) was an £18 million fund, provided by Defra to support resource efficiency projects, with the goal of diverting, reducing, and better managing waste.

Whistles wanted to approach durability across different aspects of the business, having identified that making garments last longer was important to its customers, the brand and the environment. WRAP and Whistles looked at opportunities to improve the durability of clothing by ensuring customers have a positive experience when visiting Whistles stores, using the website, and when taking their clothes home.

‘Circularity’ is becoming a buzzword in the fashion industry. But what does this actually mean for fashion & textile businesses?

How does circularity fit into wider conversations on sustainable and responsible business, and on reducing the textiles industry’s impact on the environment?

In the first six months of its existence, Textiles 2030 has recruited over 92 signatories and affiliates, spanning brands, retailers, re-use and recycling organisations from across the fashion and textiles sector.  Textiles 2030 signatories already represent 62% of all clothing put on the market in the UK.  

WRAP works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which resources are used sustainably. Read our April 2020-21 annual review to learn more about our mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

The way we style our homes is becoming increasingly important to us. The market for home décor is accelerating at a fast pace and citizens are keen to keep up with the latest trends. In this webinar, we will be exploring sustainability for home textiles, looking at the key issues and challenges the sector faces.

This session covers:

• The current scene – how the sector has grown in the last five years

• How can alternative business models apply to this sector in the same way we are seeing in the clothing industry?

• How can the sector become circular?

Textiles 2030 is the trailblazing initiative for fashion and textiles companies in the UK.