UKRI invests £6 million in sustainable UK textile industry
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has revealed a generous £6 million funding to support the fashion and textile sector in incorporating greener and more accountable methods.
The financial support was granted by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and Innovate UK – all of which are organizations within UKRI. This funding falls within the scope of the public institution's circular fashion initiative, which amounts to a total of £15 million.
The funds will be allocated towards supporting three teams of researchers who will collaborate with experts from various industries and stakeholders in order to create a pool of valuable information and knowledge. The aim is to assist the innovative sector in incorporating sustainable circular business models.
The initial group is referred to as the Circular Fashion and Textiles Network, led by the University of Leeds. Its objective is to create a starting point to evaluate the present state of sustainable practices within the industry.
The University of Exeter is spearheading a project called the Future Fibres Network, aiming to prioritize environmental sciences in the fashion industry and related sectors. Their goal is to promote systematic, circular, and sustainable practices as the standard for the industry.
At long last, the IMPACT+ Network, spearheaded by Northumbria University, will bring together a diverse group of experts to enhance the gathering, evaluation, and appraisal of data in order to push forward the precision and genuineness of measurements related to environmental impact.
Caroline Rush, the top executive of the British Fashion Council, expressed that the British fashion realm excels in originality and its visionaries and business owners are at the forefront of groundbreaking initiatives within their domain.
Nevertheless, to conscientiously expand businesses during this period of significant transformation necessitates platforms, assistance, and synchronization.
"We are excited about collaborating with the business sector and the government to assist the UK in maintaining its status as a prominent force in the worldwide creative industry. Our goal is to enhance the country's capacity to effectively and collaboratively tackle the challenges of transitioning towards a leading Circular Fashion Eco-System in the UK."
Circular Economy For Textiles: A Vital Solution
Worldwide, the textile and fashion sector contributes to eight percent of total greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for a fifth of wastewater generation. It has been estimated that this industry consumes a greater amount of energy compared to the combined energy consumption of aviation and shipping.
The fashion sector in the United Kingdom is valued at around £21 billion and contributes to the UK's economy by creating over 500,000 job opportunities.
Professor Peter Liss, Acting Head of the NERC, expressed: "The fashion sector plays a substantial role in the United Kingdom's economy. However, it also has adverse effects on the environment such as depleting water resources and releasing greenhouse gases."
"We must enhance our comprehension of the genuine consequences. This funding will unite specialists from the fashion and textile sector, as well as researchers in environmental science, with the aim of integrating sustainability into the fashion and textile industry."
