While the United Nations’ aggressive sustainability agenda, formulated and adopted by UN member states in 2015, sets out a detailed set of goals around people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership, these types of programs require member nations to take action beyond simply signing onto a framework, and few nations have taken the necessary steps. As the climate crisis worsens, and with the textiles industry being the second largest polluter in the world—and in many areas, with a reputation for not-so-stellar treatment of its workers—without a unified global approach to the issue, meaningful change is unlikely to come about.

The global sustainability charity WRAP has taken the bull by the horns by partnering with the Manchester Fashion Institute in its home country to help move things forward with its Textiles 2030 initiative.

This expert-led initiative harnesses the knowledge and expertise of UK leaders in sustainability to accelerate the whole fashion and textiles industry’s move towards circularity and system change in the UK. It’s an initiative well worth watching and modeling in other countries as well. It involves leading businesses across clothing, retail, supply, reuse and recycling and aims to fast-track the UK Circular Economy.