The Apparel Impact Institute and UNIFI, Inc. have released new reports charting the future of sustainable fashion. With a focus on decarbonization and circularity, the textile industry is at a turning point.
Long criticized for its environmental toll, the textile industry now accounts for an estimated eight to ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With a supply chain that remains deeply reliant on fossil fuels, particularly in key manufacturing countries like China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, the industry has emerged as a major emitter in urgent need of reform.
Two major reports — one from the Apparel Impact Institute (AII) and another from UNIFI, Inc., the makers of Repreve — are mapping a path forward. While AII’s newly released Low-Carbon Thermal Energy Roadmap for the Textile Industry offers a blueprint for reducing reliance on fossil fuels through electrification and renewable energy, UNIFI’s 2024 Sustainability Snapshot underscores the growing role of textile-to-textile recycling in the push for circularity. Together, these reports outline a vision for an industry that can lower emissions, reduce waste, and transition to a more sustainable future.
A roadmap to low-carbon textile production
The Apparel Impact Institute, in collaboration with Global Efficiency Intelligence, has introduced a structured plan to phase out fossil fuel dependence in textile manufacturing. The Low-Carbon Thermal Energy Roadmap details a three-phase strategy: an initial period of efficiency improvements and pilot electrification projects, followed by large-scale electrification and renewable energy procurement, and, ultimately, a full transition to electrified thermal energy systems powered by renewables.
The success of this transformation, however, hinges on a collaborative approach. Brands are expected to commit to electrification targets and offer financial support to suppliers adopting renewable energy. Textile manufacturers must integrate energy efficiency measures while preparing for a complete overhaul of their thermal energy systems. Meanwhile, policymakers and financial institutions are being called on to streamline regulatory barriers, enhance investment frameworks, and improve access to capital to accelerate industry-wide adoption.
“This roadmap is more than a vision — it’s a call to action for the entire sector. The time for incremental change is over. Achieving net zero emissions requires bold, collective action — now,” said Lewis Perkins, president of AII.
To support this transition, AII is working with industry leaders to scale pilot electrification projects, develop financing mechanisms, and expand renewable energy procurement pathways. These efforts align with a broader mission to push the textile industry toward carbon neutrality.
Founded in 2017, AII has emerged as a key driver of climate-focused textile reform. The organization has played a pivotal role in initiatives like the Fashion Climate Fund, a multimillion-dollar investment model leveraging philanthropic and corporate backing to accelerate decarbonization. With an ambitious goal of halving emissions by 2030, AII’s strategy combines financial innovation with scalable climate solutions.
The rise of circularity in textiles
As the textile industry looks to cut emissions, circularity has become an equally pressing concern. UNIFI, a leader in recycled and synthetic yarns, has positioned itself at the forefront of this movement with the release of its 2024 Sustainability Snapshot. The report highlights the company’s advances in textile-to-textile recycling, an increasingly vital component of its sustainability strategy.
The launch of Repreve Takeback, the world’s largest portfolio of performance circular polyester, and ThermaLoop, a newly developed thermal insulation made from recycled textiles, underscores UNIFI’s commitment to circularity. These innovations are part of a broader shift toward reducing waste and minimizing reliance on virgin materials.
“Our fifth annual Sustainability Snapshot demonstrates both our progress and our drive,” said Eddie Ingle, CEO of UNIFI. “We continually push boundaries in recycling, waste reduction, and innovation to make sustainable manufacturing available at scale.”
UNIFI reports that it has recycled the equivalent of 950 million T-shirts’ worth of textile and yarn waste, with a goal of reaching 1.5 billion by 2030. The company has also diverted 42 billion plastic bottles from landfills, with projections to hit 50 billion by the end of 2025. Additional progress includes zero non-compliant water discharges across its operations and an eight percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with a target of cutting emissions by 30 percent within the decade.
Repreve, UNIFI’s flagship recycled fiber brand, accounted for 32 percent of its revenue in 2024, with the company aiming to increase that figure to more than 50 percent by 2030.
To further enhance transparency, UNIFI has conducted independent, third-party life cycle assessments for Repreve Takeback staple fiber and ThermaLoop. These assessments compared the recycled materials to virgin polyester and found significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, fossil fuel consumption, and freshwater demand. The impact of these advancements has been widely recognized, with ThermaLoop winning the 2024 Just Style Award for Product Launch – Circularity and the 2025 SEAL Sustainable Product Award for its contributions to circular innovation.
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