US-based non-profit Accelerating Circularity has released the next phase of the Building Circular Systems (BCS) initiative which aims to amplify the development of circular textile-to-textile systems, mitigating the industry's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and curbing the disposal of textiles into landfills and incinerators.

Accelerating Circularity’s BCS initiative aims to significantly ramp up material volumes, develop new tools and expand educational outreach based on insights from its previous work.

The non-profit hopes to create deeper collaborations with additional partners and a broader geographic scope.

Accelerating Circularity’s initiative has three main workstreams:

1. Building Markets: expanding trials in the US and European Union.

2. Creating the Textile Hierarchy Tool: outlining pathways for used textiles to maximise resource savings and minimise environmental impacts.

3. Educating: providing information and tools on circular textile-to-textile systems.

BCS offers participants the opportunity to engage firsthand with the capabilities and challenges of circular systems, collectively develop tools necessary for commercialising textile-to-textile processes at an industry scale and establish connections with peers to navigate regulations and transition pathways.

Accelerating Circularity claims the initiative empowers companies to align with their sustainability goals by incorporating recycled materials and achieving GHG reduction targets.

Previous trials conducted by Accelerating Circularity in the textile-to-textile domain claim to have yielded promising results, showcasing the successful substitution of virgin fibres in yarns and fabrics with a minimum of 40% recycled cotton or recycled polyester, executed at standard industry minimum order quantities.

Karla Magruder, founder and president of Accelerating Circularity, said: “This milestone marks a major step forward in ACP’s efforts to build commercial circular textile-to-textile systems, provide industry tools and deliver on education and knowledge allowing companies to transfer learnings to their sourcing strategies.

“We are driving positive change in the supply chain through collaboration and leading the way toward our vision of a world where textiles are no longer wasted.”

Last week (8 February), Accelerating Circularity shared, as part of its 2023 annual report, that it will receive another grant from Walmart Foundation in 2024 for driving its recycling initiatives as it plans to expand the new phase of recycling trials.