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Sparxell, a startup pioneering sustainable pigments for cosmetics, has secured a substantial £2.5m investment from a diverse group of backers, including L'Oréal. 💡 Key Highlights: 🌱 Since its inception in 2022, Sparxell has been dedicated to pioneering sustainable solutions. They specialize in creating biodegradable and vegan pigments, sourcing raw materials from plant-based cellulose extracted from waste. 🌱 This approach not only mitigates environmental impact but also aligns with the growing consumer demand for ethically sourced products. 🌱 Dr. Benjamin Droguet, Sparxell's CEO, emphasizes the detrimental environmental effects associated with conventional chemical colorants. He underscores the urgency for industry-wide adoption of sustainable alternatives to mitigate these impacts effectively. 🌱 The Circular Innovation Fund, co-founded by L’Oreal, recognized Sparxell's potential and chose to invest. This investment signals a broader industry acknowledgment of Sparxell's innovative approach and its potential to drive positive change across various sectors. #SustainableCosmetics #EcoFriendlyBeauty #GreenTechnology #CircularEconomy #PlantBasedPigments #BiodegradableBeauty #InnovationInCosmetics #ClimateAction #ClimateChange

🌿 It’s inspiring to see the advancements in transforming agricultural waste into valuable textiles, as showcased by Fashion for Good's ‘Untapped Agricultural Waste’ Project. At Ziada Solutions Ltd, we share this passion for sustainability through our work with banana waste in Kenya. In under two years, we’ve processed nearly 300,000 Kgs of waste banana stems, producing around 3,000 Kgs of eco friendly and sustainable natural fibre. We have engaged numerous women groups in Taita Taveta to make various handwoven homeware products like baskets, coasters using the fibre. We have set up two weaving workshop in Taveta and Nairobi to make carpets and runners with plans to expand into fabric production. The findings from this project resonate deeply with us, particularly the importance of co-development and partnerships, as well as the environmental benefits of agri-residue fibres. We believe that tapping into local, sustainable materials like banana fibres not only reduces waste but also offers a unique opportunity for the fashion and homeware industries to explore new, eco-friendly alternatives. Looking forward to learning from and contributing to the growing movement toward circular economies in fashion and homeware. GIZ Kenya Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) Danida Green Business Partnerships / Danida Market Development Partnerships Innovate 4 Nature Innovate UK Business Connect Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) Circular Innovation Hub Denmark in Kenya Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya Solidaridad East and Central Africa Nabila Khanbhai Criou Jungle Harvest Limited Alphaxrd Gitau Ndungu Self Help Africa, Kenya Hand in Hand Eastern Africa Bernadette Murgor Danish Industry Kamilla Heden Henningsen Wildlife Works Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association LUMO Community Wildlife Conservancy Rajeev Arora Caroline Musau Caroline Ng’ang’a Carli Rosencranz Anu Frank-Lawale Wangira Mbayaki MSc MAZIDO International Nyaguthii Kinyua Margaret Miano Agrisolutions Enterprises Ltd (ASEL) Wangechi Kuria Jeniffer Muendi, MBA, CPA-K Mary Gitau Albert Wambugu Maureen Mburu Phyllis Githii #SustainableInnovation #NaturalFibres #CircularEconomy #BananaFibre #AgriculturalWaste

In February 2022, our Raw Materials Team at Fashion for Good launched the ‘Untapped Agricultural Waste’ Project, with catalytic funding from Laudes Foundation and brought together with key industry players and Fashion for Good partners - adidas, BESTSELLER, PVH Corp., and Vivobarefoot in an exciting collaboration with our innovators. Our vision was clear: to validate and scale technologies that can successfully transform agricultural residues into textile fibres while mitigating the adverse effects of burning these residues, reducing the reliance on virgin conventional fibres, and adopting lower-impact alternatives. Together, we conducted rigorous due diligence to select six innovators (AltMat, Bananatex®, Chlorohemp, Agraloop by Circular Systems SPC, Hemptex® India and 9FIBER®) and conducted a technical feasibility study. Based on the results, three innovators were selected - AltMat, Bananatex, and Circular Systems to progress to the pilot phase, to produce a select number of blends for performance testing and developing products. Agri-residue from hemp, pineapple, and abaca (non-food banana) stalks evaluated in the project can be used to produce natural fibres. The applications ranged from light-weight t-shirts and dresses to heavy-weight jackets and shoe uppers. This project concluded in March 2024, showcasing the potential of agricultural residues as an alternative source of natural fibres and the technologies to bring impact savings and meet industry requirements on performance and quality. We gained some key takeaways from this project: ✅ An iterative co-development process among a brand, manufacturer, and innovator is essential to create materials that meet aesthetics and performance requirements. ✅ Agri-residue fibres, compared to conventional cotton and hemp, demonstrate lower environmental impacts across key metrics. ✅ Traceability of agri-residues from the farm level as well as their integration into standards and regulations will be key to their widespread adoption. ✅ To facilitate the transition to agri-residue fibres, particular consideration must also be given to the logistics of feedstock shipment, and integration into existing factory operations. Alongside this, strategic partnerships within the supply chain can play a significant role in accelerating the scaling journey of innovations. You can read more about the project at this link: https://lnkd.in/dtj4CkgT Project lead: Georgia Parker Dipanwita Ray Shikha Shah Hannes Schoenegger Isaac Nichelson #sustainablefashion #innovation #naturalfibres #innovativetech #sustainableapparel

🐑 Got a woolly idea or can play a role in supporting innovation with strong wool?? 🐑 We have been speaking with a lot of people about new uses for New Zealand strong wool and how we can get more value for it. There is no shortage of passion and ideas for this wonderful fibre based on its many positive attributes. Unfortunately, a consistent theme in talking to researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and brands has been that it can be challenging to find the information, expertise, and support needed to bring woolly ideas to life. As one new wool user put it quite well, “For an industry getting whomped, you make it really f🤬ng hard to use wool!”. Point taken… (They are still passionately innovating with wool by the way, but not everyone does) Wool Impact commissioned a review of the innovation ecosystem for wool in New Zealand and found that there is expertise, manufacturing capability and support available for innovation with wool within New Zealand. What is needed is someone to provide information and connections to this, so we have established a Navigator role to do just that. The Navigator is here to support innovative ideas for wool that will: 🐑 Significantly increase the use and demand for New Zealand strong wool – we have a lot of wool (over 100 million kgs of it) so we’re talking about products that will use hundreds and (ideally) thousands of tonnes of it.  💰 Support a higher and sustainable price for our wool – our farmers aren’t getting paid enough to cover costs so any new uses need to be able to support a price that is 2-3 times (at least) what it is now.  🇳🇿 Enable increased domestic manufacturing using New Zealand strong wool. Reach out to our Navigator at navigator@woolimpact.com if you have: 💡 A wool innovation that will support those objectives; or  💡 Expertise, manufacturing capacity or resources to support innovation. https://lnkd.in/gFCZN_aa https://lnkd.in/gTyjMGSB #wool #innovation Wool Impact Limited

Why Regenerative Programs Are So Important For Fashion 🚜🌾 The fashion industry is heavily reliant on agricultural systems (think cotton, wool). The use of land, pesticides and huge amounts of water puts enormous stress on the environment. Very unsustainable, indeed. How to go from here? ➡️ Working in harmony with nature, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 sequesters carbon in the soil and intentionally improves soil health, biodiversity, water quality and air quality while ensuring the viability of farm production. (Field to Market definition). Why are regenerative agriculture programs so important for the fashion industry? 1️⃣ 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Regenerative fashion goes beyond sustainability by actively restoring ecosystems and fostering biodiversity. Through regenerative agriculture practices like rotational grazing and organic farming, we can replenish soil health, sequester carbon, and conserve water resources. 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: These regenerative programs empower local communities by providing fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for skill development. By investing in regenerative initiatives, fashion companies can establish economic resilience and social equity within the communities where materials are sourced and produced. 3️⃣ 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆: Regenerative fashion promotes a circular economy model, where resources are utilized efficiently and waste is minimized. By prioritizing renewable materials, reducing resource consumption, and designing products with end-of-life solutions in mind, we can create a closed-loop system that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes resource value. 4️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Regenerative fashion encourages collaboration and innovation across the industry, driving advancements in sustainable materials, production techniques, and supply chain practices. By working together towards common goals, fashion brands, suppliers, and stakeholders can accelerate the transition towards a more regenerative and resilient industry. 5️⃣ 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: By embracing regenerative programs, fashion companies can differentiate themselves in the market, attract environmentally-conscious consumers, and build brand loyalty based on shared values of sustainability and responsibility.

🌎We're in an era where being eco-friendly isn't just nice, it's necessary. Abdo Riani sheds light on five #startup niches that are turning heads with their green innovations. 𝟭. Bioplastics: Forget old-school plastics. Think cornstarch and sugarcane. Market's booming to $43.8B by 2027. 𝟮. Sustainable Textiles: Fashion but make it eco? Renewcell's doing it with recycled cotton. Big market, big impact. 𝟯. Plant-Based Leather: Who knew pineapple leaves could replace leather? Piñatex is doing just that🍍 𝟰. Recycling Plastics: It's not just about ditching plastic, but reinventing it. The Ocean Cleanup's making waves here🌊 𝟱. Hemp revolution: From fashion to function, hemp is showing its versatility. Get ready for hemp-based everything. Head to Forbes to read more about the 5 niches: https://lnkd.in/gC8xQKmK #innovation #thebrandsoftomorrow #sustainability

Happy #ForestDay! This year's theme, 'Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World,' set by the UN General Assembly, reminds us of the incredible role forests play in shaping our lives. Did you know forests are more than just trees? They're the unsung heroes behind your wardrobe and daily essentials! Ever heard of viscose and lyocell? These sustainable textile fibres are derived from wood pulp, like our responsibly sourced dissolving pulp, Verve, ensuring your clothes are not just trendy but also ethical! And let's talk innovation! This spans from Sappi’s glossy, easily recyclable flexible paper packaging to our technology which extracts biochemicals and biomaterials from trees. With the latter, we produce Valida, 100% natural and biodegradable, perfect for replacing harmful microplastics in skincare products! With the high functionality of our flexible packaging papers, they are now even used in sustainable chocolate wrappers, yoghurt pots, coffee packaging etc. So, as we celebrate today, let's honour the remarkable contributions forests make to our lives and commit to protecting these invaluable ecosystems.

How can banana agri-waste benefit the fashion industry? 🍌    Well, a lot more than you might think.  As a Next Generation Material, it is one of the alternatives for conventional materials. And it’s not just bananas. We see all different types of fibers being made from food waste. Cactus, pineapple, citrus, and mango - the list goes on. 🌵🥭🍋🍍    This type of material is getting more and more attention. And with good reason. They have a bunch of advantages like minimizing waste and a smaller environmental footprint. Like any other new innovation, though, they are not perfect yet. But if more brands begin working with them, they may become a great option to choose from when deciding which sustainability initiatives to take. 🌿 Seeing it is a valid alternative (or at least has the potential to be in the future), we have made it a part of our ESG Elephant. Follow along as we go into more detail with a number of the topics in the elephant over the next months.

Regenerative cotton & regenerative agriculture are huge components of today's (and tomorrow's) #sustainability solution. See how Lenzing Group TENCEL™ is incorporating this into its strategy. #denim #fashion https://bit.ly/49Ngz96

I had the pleasure of connecting with Megan Meiklejohn from Land to Market to discuss the intersection of regenerative agriculture in the apparel and textiles space. Whilst regenerative agriculture is (rightfully) getting quite a lot of buzz in the sustainability space as a critical component in sustainability roadmaps, my conversation with Megan left me wondering if we are missing the point of adopting regenerative practices. Are brands setting ambitious targets simply for the sake of responsible sourcing, or have they thought more deeply about the impact that a well-thought-through transition can make against other sustainable goals? A brand that builds its strategy around regenerative practices stands to gain a lot more than responsibly sourced materials - it opens up a pathway towards a just transition, circular and durable products, and fundamentally an opportunity to reshape how consumers perceive and buy fashion. https://lnkd.in/dcuB-JMf