Eighteen major brands including Boohoo, Asos, Primark, Next, M&S, Primark, and John Lewis have joined Textile 2030 Scheme that aims to reduce the sector's significant environmental footprint over the coming decade. The initiative launched by waste charity WRAP, commits fashion retailers to halving their carbon emissions by the end of the decade and reducing the aggregate water footprint of their products by 30 per cent.

Alongside pledges to reduce water use and cut carbon emissions, signatories have also committed to using more recycled materials in their products and to pilot and implement business models centred around the reuse of old clothes. The national scheme is set to join a global network of initiatives geared at reducing the environmental impact of clothing around the world dubbed the Textiles Action Network, WRAP said.

MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee held an evidence session today to discuss how the scheme can put the UK fashion industry on a pathway to net zero emissions while incorporating greater circularity across business models. The session also investigated how the planned Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for the textiles industry could be designed to support the initiative and incentivize sustainable design within the fashion industry.