TEXTILES.ORG
Accelerating Circularity, a New York, N.Y.-based nonprofit dedicated to creating business models and supply chains for manufacturing more sustainable fabrics, announced its commitment to action at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting. This commitment, titled “Building Circular Systems” aims to change the textile industry by building scalable systems where materials are continuously repurposed and reused, rather than recycled once or discarded.
Accelerating Circularity’s commitment will focus on three key initiatives:
- Building a market for recycled textiles: Accelerating Circularity will collaborate with brand, retail and manufacturing partners across the U.S. and Europe to recycle 325 tons of used textiles, including 150 tons of cotton, 100 tons of polyester and 75 tons of other fibers.
- Creating a used textile mapping tool: The platform will outline the entire recycling ecosystem by pinpointing collectors, sorters, processors, recyclers, fiber producers, yarn spinners, fabric mills and product manufacturers who can repurpose used textiles into new fibers. It will streamline the recycling process for textiles from various sources—including fabric mills, brands, retailers, and consumers—by identifying the most efficient and environmentally sustainable pathways for converting these materials into new products.
- Educational resources: Educational materials will be developed to help brands and consumers understand how to responsibly dispose of and recycle textiles. Founded in 2019, Accelerating Circularity has proven the power of collaboration through its strategic partnerships. One example is its work with Goodwill Industries, supported by a $1.2 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. This initiative focused on creating new business models for processing the large volumes of donated clothing Goodwill receives each year.
This work is set to be completed by March 2026.
“I’m honored to lead this important initiative to change the textile industry,” says Karla Magruder, president and founder of Accelerating Circularity. “Our work, amplified by the Clinton Global Initiative will help us make a difference by reducing waste and pollution and promoting sustainability worldwide. We invite businesses, organizations and individuals to join us in this
effort and help create a more sustainable future for textiles.”
The CGI was founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005. It has helped more than 10,000 organizations to launch over 4,000 commitments to action.