SuperCircle’s Post

We’re so proud of the SuperCircle featured in Inc. Magazine’s April issue, with an insider’s look at the sustainable future they're building. In 2018, we invested in co-founders Chloe Marie Songer and Stuart Ahlum as they embarked on a mission to create a more circular, sustainable future — starting with the founding of Thousand Fell, and now SuperCircle, a fully-scalable logistics platform powering some of the world’s leading textile brands. SuperCircle's digital twin technology gives their brand partners the assurance that the garments being sent for responsible disposal are actually being responsibly disposed of. "You have the pure transparency about where the garments are actually going and the impact that system has on sustainability," says Nisha Dua. Having an understanding of how a garment can be disposed of--whether it's recycled or downcycled--can give a brand valuable insight into how it can better design its products for recyclability. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e5PsXbbZ

When I started working in #retail and #apparel many years ago, I saw only the products on shelves moving toward the hands of consumers. Sure, I knew that they all arrived from somewhere – largely from overseas – and that not all of them would ultimately sell, but in my brain, the lion’s share would find a forever home – and those that didn’t would be sold to an off-price retailer where they’d find their own forever home. Maybe there would be some damaged items that would go to landfill – but surely not so much that it could create problems. Surely. Oh how wrong I was. In the past five years, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time focused on the apparel industry. I’ve seen how an overly complex #logistics system, coupled with a manufacturing system weighed down by #overproduction, turns into 9 BILLION products in landfill from consumer returns each year. And even when a product does make it to a consumer, it will likely be worn fewer than 7- 10 times before being discarded––driven by a combination of increasing consumer demands for the new and novel and by manufacturers’ decisions to prioritize lower cost, lower quality construction. In the meantime, our systems for #recycling and #recovery for textiles are not yet built out to handle that volume of #returns and discards––often, the BEST case scenario is your jeans turn into home insulation. Not that they become new jeans again. We have a ways to go, folks. And yet, in the past six months, I’ve been seeing progress; we’re perhaps at the beginning of a revolution for the retail industry. At Closed Loop Partners' Ventures Group, we are bullish on opportunities to advance solutions that can replace wasteful supply chains with more resilient ones. So why is the next decade the time for the apparel industry to shine? Retailers are hurting – and change is the only option. #circulareconomy #textiles #returns #reverselogistics #manufacturing #recycling #overproduction

Aly Bryan, Investor on the Closed Loop Ventures Group team at Closed Loop Partners, shares insights on the current state of the textile industry, and the growing opportunity to transition to circularity. "The rapid pace of trends and increasing volume of clothing returns are up against slow supply chain timelines and complex logistics. This translates to a lot of excess clothing––most of it ending up in landfill. The high cost of waste, to both retailers and consumers, has sparked the need for change, but the apparel industry has ebbed and flowed in its transition to circularity. Yet, in the past six months, the tides have been turning. What makes the next decade the time for the industry to rise to the challenge of an urgent waste crisis?" Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02Q6Wb10 #circulareconomy #textile #clothing #apparel #reuse #recycling #innovation #venturecapital

According to Business Insider, during the Christmas season, 30% of what we buy online — half of which is clothing — is returned, and 25% of returned products end up as waste. 🎄🗑️ This shows how the convenience of today's shopping experience comes at a great cost to the environment. What could be the solutions to this problem? 💡🤔 Clothing companies could decrease the generated waste by limiting returns, but ultimately, recycling the clothing that end up in the waste stream is the only long-term viable solution for the industry. For that, innovations like Smart Stitch™️ and Smart Disassembly™️ are necessary to unlock the industrial-scale recycling of textiles today. 👚♻️ Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts below. ⬇️ _ #Resortecs #RecyclingMadeEasy #Recycling #CircularFashion #SustainableFashion #CircularEconomy #SmartStitch #DesignedForDisassembly #CircularInnovation #CircularTechnology  #Textile #TextileIndustry #Christmas #TextileWaste

There are -also on this platform- far more people TALKING about what should be done about problems in the fashion industry, than people BUYING from circular pioneers. Apparently it's difficult to compete with the global companies who continue with business models that add to pollution, social inequalities and massive waste. Therefore it is no less than totally awesome that young people like Eugénie Haitsma Mulier, Douwe de Boer and Diek Pothoven pour in their incredible talent and effort into building the circular business models that will define the future of of fashion. We need new new start ups like MARTAN and together we have a duty to make them succesful! Go and check it our and invest in MARTAN: https://lnkd.in/eAM8BmVm

Weekly circular updates you NEED to know📝👇 Here is what happened this week: 1. Vogue Business 100 Innovators The annual Vogue Business 100 Innovators list is out! It comprises 100 tech masterminds, sustainability leaders, entrepreneurs, beauty pioneers and industry changemakers. 2. German rules on discount fashion retailers German legislators are drafting new regulations to ensure that Chinese "discount retailers" such as Shein and Temu adhere to standards for product safety, environmental protection, consumer rights and customs and tax laws. 3. Nike's approach to sustainability After laying off the leaders of its sustainability team and 20% of the supporting sustainability professionals, Nike now faces a raft of shareholder proposals related to human rights, climate change and working conditions in its supply chain. 4. Cascale, BGMEA partner to drive sustainability Global nonprofit alliance Cascale and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance sustainability. 5. 2024 UK Net Zero Business Census The report reveals encouraging progress, with 73% of businesses prioritising net zero and 39% achieving measurable carbon reductions. 6. Steve Madden recycling programme Steve Madden partnered with the recycling platform Trashie. Their customers can now purchase a 'take-back' bag for $20, fill it with old clothes and shoes, and send it back to Trashie's recycling facility using a pre-paid shipping label. Chat us up below. What do you think of recent news?

Following on Circ® being named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 list last week... Our Alante Portfolio Impact Highlight: Circ® - Threading together the future of circular fashion Circ is a globally recognized pioneer in chemical recycling of blended apparel fibers. Circ’s process stands out among clothing recyclers because it can take any blend of cotton/cellulosic/polyester garments as a feedstock -  solving a much broader range of the industry’s waste challenge. Their products can directly replace the use of virgin polyester, lyocell, and cotton as well as recycled polyester (traditionally from bottles) and recycled cotton (traditional or mechanical methods) reducing land use and energy intensity. Sustainability is deeply embedded within the “fibers” of Circ’s team, organization, and products. Their aspirational impact is incorporated directly into their 10/10/100 objective to recycle 10 billion garments, representing 10% of the apparel market which will save 100 million trees. They verify progress towards this goal with data-powered measures they regularly report on, emphasizing transparency and a conservative approach. Founders - Peter Majeranowski Conor Hartman #circularfashion #textiletotextilerecycling #circularity #forestconservation Karla Mora Leslie Harwell Tess Maria Krasne Lisa Bougie https://circ.earth/

While Shein's €200M circular fund may seem insufficient given the scale of fast fashion's environmental impact, dismissing it as irrelevant overlooks several crucial factors: 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡: This initiative could inspire other companies to create similar or larger funds, potentially sparking a more significant industry-wide movement towards sustainability. 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙: The fund may support innovative projects or technologies that, while small now, could be scaled up to create substantial impact in the future. 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜: Even if partly motivated by PR, the fund draws much-needed attention to circularity issues in fashion, potentially influencing consumer behavior and industry practices. 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚: This fund represents a concrete step that can be built upon, potentially leading to more substantial commitments as the company learns and adapts. 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮: The initiatives funded could provide valuable insights into effective circular economy strategies, benefiting the wider industry. We must resist the urge to disregard efforts simply because the numbers initially disappoint. Sustainability is a complex challenge that requires more than just throwing money at the problem. These initiatives, even if imperfect, can drive innovation, raise awareness, and create ripple effects throughout the industry. By supporting and critically engaging with such efforts, rather than dismissing them outright, we encourage companies to take those crucial first steps towards meaningful change. SHIEN may have failed here, but that doesn’t mean others must do that same. Remember, transforming an industry doesn't happen overnight. Every initiative, no matter its size, has the potential to contribute to the larger goal of a more sustainable fashion ecosystem. #Sustainability #Greenwashing #ClimateAction #Shein

Recycling initiatives for the biggest fashion brands solves 2 problems: Creates value out of unsold stock. Derisks their raw material supply chain. But what can small businesses do when you can’t afford €600 million on a recycling scheme? I’m heading to FESPA #personalisationexperience tomorrow to talk about how Personalisation is going to grow to solve those problems for brands who aren’t H&M #sustainablefashion #recycling #supplychains

Thrifticle is a leading sourcing platform for collectors, sorters, and wholesalers in Used Clothing and Textile Recycling industry. In a rapidly evolving industry, we're redefining how sourcing works by creating a seamless, global marketplace that empowers businesses to thrive sustainably. At Thrifticle, we believe in the power of circular economies. Our platform not only bridges the gap between supply and demand but also contributes to a more sustainable future by ensuring that every piece of textile finds a second life. Whether you're a collector looking for the right buyers, a sorter seeking reliable sources, or a wholesaler ready to scale your business, Thrifticle is your go-to hub for all things recycled and upcycled. At Thrifticle, we are redefining the way the world sources and trades in used clothing and textile recycling in an unorganized industry. With our core expertise in sourcing including unsorted credential rags from the USA and original collections from the UK, EU, and Australia, we collaborate with top charities, collectors, and suppliers on a global scale. Headquartered in India and serving markets worldwide, Thrifticle has successfully onboarded over 5,000+ partners, including charities, collectors, sorters, recyclers, wholesalers, and retailers. Our platform is a comprehensive marketplace that offers a wide range of key products, including unsorted clothing collections, vintage clothing, luxury clothing, fibers, fabrics, shoes, bags, and toys. In addition to sourcing, we also facilitate essential packaging materials for the used clothing industry, such as baling machines, straps, and plastic bags, ensuring that your business operates efficiently and sustainably. Join us as we continue to build a global network that not only connects businesses but also promotes a more sustainable future through the circular economy. 🔗 Partner with Thrifticle and experience sourcing redefined. #Thrifticle #SourcingRedefined #TextileRecycling #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #GlobalMarketplace #UsedClothing #Thrifticle #SourcingRedefined #TextileRecycling #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #UsedClothing #VintageClothing #GlobalMarketplace