SPOTLIGHT ON SUSTAINABILITY

In a bid for a greener future, textile houses are adapting while upholding superior standards of quality and style

A RECENT report by the European Environment Agency stated that in 2020 Europe was the textile consumption area with the third highest impact on water and land- and the fifth highest when assessing raw material use and greenhouse gas emissions. With the report revealing the average textile consumption per person is 15kg per year, of which 6.1kg is from household textiles, the need for responsibility within the sector is critical. Thankfully, this is happening.

Over the last few years, we have seen a shift towards recycled and recyclable materials (most notably plastic). However, as our awareness grows, it is becoming clear that for a greener future we must go beyond standalone collections and a closed-loop mentality must become the norm. Speaking with Jordan Mould, the director of strategy, sales and innovation at Kirkby Design, he states the key lies in new, organic ingredients. 'We're making great progress in developing ways to incorporate more sustainable fibres, using new techniques and alternative materials such as hemp, aloe vera, lyocell and BIOVYN", he states. 'Part of our mission is to develop textiles that are more sustainable without compromising on quality, style or durability.