Australian clothing brand Country Road has announced grant recipients in the second year of its annual Climate Fund, backing four projects aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the fashion industry supply chain.
According to a statement from the company on Friday, the three-year, $1.5 million fund announced in 2022 supports projects across four pillars: Biodiversity, Innovation, Circularity and First Nations.
A textile waste sorting pilot project by RediRobots (pictured) was awarded $30,000 support to the problem of an estimated 575 tonnes of old clothing per day – much of it recyclable – being thrown away by Australians.
RediRobots is automating textile waste sorting by colour and garment type, and will refine this in collaboration with Textile Recyclers Australia and the University of Canberra through the project.
Circular Sourcing was awarded $139,000 for its Sourcing Guide, which “aims to empower brands, designers, and manufacturers to divert their surplus fabrics back into the industry” through a digital platform.
The platform was developed by Courtney Holm of A.BCH. According to Country Road, it has, “diverted over 5 tonnes of textiles in a 12- week pilot and now… the project aims to divert a further 238 tonnes of textiles from landfill and into the hands of small businesses, reframing “deadstock” as a valuable ecological choice.”
The other two finalist projects were the Mimal Women Rangers and Greening Australia’s Improving Biodiversity on Tasmanian Merino Wool Farms.
Assessment committee member Aleasha McCallion from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute said that, “All of the Climate Fund recipients clearly reflect exceptional innovation and dedication to sustainable and circular solutions in Australia which connect our close relationship with fibre, textiles and fashion, back to the health and wellbeing of people and planet.”
Assessment panel members are Yatu Widders Hunt, general manager Cox Inall Ridgeway; Dr. Carter Ingram, managing director Pollination; Fabia Pryor, brand sustainability manager Country Road and Aleasha McCallion, strategic projects manager Circular Economy Transitions and co-founder Circular Economy Textiles Program, Monash Sustainable Development Institute.
Picture: supplied
Further reading
Rediscovering our ability to spin a yarn
Onshore textile manufacturing project among Country Road Climate Fund grant winners