Published today, the document outlines progress made between June 2022 and June 2024, to meet a global commitment to work towards zero impact from fibre fragmentation from textiles to the natural environment by 2030.
‘The Microfibre 2030 Commitment: An Update on Progress’ includes details of the world-wide collaborative programme of initiatives that is being led by TMC, with the support of signatories of the commitment and other key stakeholders. The report highlights five key developments and areas of progress since 2022:
- Addressing fibre fragmentation is now a crucial component in the sustainability strategies of apparel brands
- Transitioning from the initial ‘Activate’ phase of The Microfibre Roadmap to a new stage of ‘Implement’ has signalled a new era of driving actionable change
- Managed by TMC, the Microfibre Data Portal is the largest dataset for comprehensive root-cause analysis to support science-led product change
- The work of TMC collaborations is empowering global manufacturers with the tools and knowledge to enhance sustainable practices
- TMC’s specialised expertise is leveraged to ensure that policy decisions are rooted in full understanding of the available science
Launched in September 2021, The Microfibre 2030 Commitment is a global framework that now has over 100 participants, including some of the world’s largest textile and apparel companies. Together, they are leading a sustained programme of collaborative and proactive cross industry work that, through defined targets and clear milestones, aims to address fibre fragmentation. The report that has been published today demonstrates early achievements from that work and signals the start of a new phase in the project.
The Microfibre 2030 Commitment: An Update on Progress also lays out some of the most recent, and imminent, actions that TMC is taking. These include the establishment of the TMC Policy Committee, which is creating alignment with, and providing expert advice on, proposals such as the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint. Meanwhile, TMC is empowering the manufacturing community to mitigate fibre fragmentation in manufacturing effluent, developing the Fabric Shedding Rate (FSR) indicator to give brands and retailers the ability to act on an aligned understanding of testing results. In addition, reviewing the TMC Test Method portfolio to improve understanding of pollution pathways. To support all of this, the consortium has recently launched version 2.0 of The Microfibre Data Portal, which will allow for greater scalability of testing data and more advanced analytics. In publishing the update report, TMC is calling for more organisations to get involved. Active industry-wide engagement is needed to address this multi-faceted challenge.
Kelly Sheridan, CEO of The Microfibre Consortium, comments: “This report lays out in detail some of the excellent progress that has been made to address the complex and significant issue of fibre fragmentation. It also provides a stark insight into the scale of the challenges that we must address if we are going to achieve the objectives of The Microfibre 2030 Commitment. In that context, what we have collectively done to expand the industry response to this issue is vital. It better reflects the reality of the bigger picture, complementing and amplifying the significant work that is ongoing to address fragmentation from synthetics. What fills me with most optimism is the clear determination of all signatories, and the fact that we have not only identified what must happen next, but have also committed to do that together.
“The report clearly showcases that our collective approach is effective. As we revise the roadmap using the extra knowledge and data that we now have, The Microfibre Consortium will continue to play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration between industry and science. We bridge the gap so that brands, retailers and manufacturers can implement the necessary changes to reduce fibre shedding. To do that with maximum effect in the long term will need even more input and engagement from industry, so I urge companies in the apparel sector to get in touch and get involved.”
The Microfibre 2030 Commitment: An Update on Progress is available now on TMC’s website HERE. To discuss how to sign up to The Microfibre 2030 Commitment and get involved in the project, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..