The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme (NCPSS), driven by a consortium led by the Australian Fashion Council (AFC), has released its plan to achieve circularity in Australian fashion by 2030.
The consortium includes Charitable Recycling Australia, Sustainable Resource Use, Queensland University of Technology and WRAP, along with key collaborators from the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence, Australian Retailers Association, Australian Council of Recycling, National Retail Association, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association.
The scheme is modelled off four key pillars: design for circularity, circular business models, closing the material loop and citizen behaviour change.
The NCPSS will shortly begin a development and transition phase, and will be operational from July 1, 2024.
Key to the plan is the recruitment of foundation scheme members during 2023 that will fund the transition phase and help shape the Scheme and its governance structure.
During a virtual townhall on the subject of circularity, AFC CEO Leila Naja Hibri called upon Australia's major fashion and clothing players to commit to change.
"Australia’s top 30 clothing brands and retailers bring in at least 60% of the 1.5 billion units of clothing that is imported into our market each year,” Naja Hibri said. “By becoming foundation members, these brands have the opportunity to transform the way Australia makes, consumes and recycles clothing.
“Together we can do what no brand or retailer can do on their own. Together we can start our industry’s journey toward a circular economy by 2030 and net zero by 2050.”
Sustainable business advocate and WRAP APAC MD Claire Kneller echoed Naja Hibri’s point.
"Change in the Australian clothing industry requires commitment from all members of the value chain for successful, longstanding results,” Kneller said. “For the industry transformation detailed in the plan to happen, we need to engage the entire industry from clothing brands to retailers and consumers, to play a part in reducing the environmental impacts of clothing, and to consume in a future fit manner."
Recruitment to join the scheme is currently open for foundation members. Small to medium enterprises can also become involved as circular leaders, and individuals are being asked to make the pledge to join the journey towards clothing circularity in Australia by 2030.