Every month FashionUnited selects a number of sustainability efforts from the fashion industry, both from home and abroad. Today eleven efforts from April 2025 are mentioned.
Avend takes over Sustainability standards from CPHFW
Amsterdam Fashion Week (AFR) and Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) work together to accelerate sustainable initiatives in the fashion industry. They announced this on 3 April. AF will implement the sustainability standards of CPHFW for official shows, starting with a pilot phase in 2025 and complete implementation in 2026. This collaboration reinforces sustainability requirements in Europe and supports designers in making measurable progress in the field of sustainability.
Byborre introduces new digital platform
Byborre launches Textile Room, a digital platform for adjustable fabrics. Designers can adjust color, patterns and textures via the platform and produce fabrics on-demand with a minimum of 50 meters. Each design receives a textile passport for traceability and environmental data, which contributes to transparency in the supply chain.
Clothing recycling factory Brightfiber Textiles officially open
On April 15, actress Carice van Houten officially opened the Brightfiber Textiles recycling factory, a world first in the field of automated clothing recycling. The factory can process 2.5 million kilos of textile annually and cooperates with brands such as Patagonia, ANWB, Martan and ID&T on circular clothing. Founder Ellen Mensink emphasizes that recycling is indispensable to make the clothing industry more sustainable. Brand research shows broad support for stricter legislation and mandatory deployment of recycled textile. Brightfiber responds to this need with concrete solutions.
Subsidy for research into clothing made from Mycelium
Mycelium is seen as a promising, biodegradable alternative to traditional fashion materials, but is still too vulnerable to large -scale application. Researchers from the University of Groningen (RUG), including Marleen Kamperman and Dr. Marijke Leliveld, have received a subsidy of 100,000 euros from the Gratama Foundation to further develop this material and to do consumer research into clothing made from Mycelium.
Mended wins prize during circular innovation top
Repair service MENDED has won the price for circular Changemaker. This happened during the national circular innovation top. Earlier Mended won in the regional final of the province of Utrecht. The Circular Innovation Top wants to offer circular entrepreneurs a stage to scale up, connect and inspire. It is an initiative of VNO-NCW Midden in collaboration with, among others, Prezero, the Gear House, De Groene Groeiers and Cise Network.
Fairly Made raises 15 million euros in financing
The French tech company Fairly Made has raised 15 million euros to expand its technology platform, to strengthen the team and grow internationally. Fairly Made offers a SaaS solution with which fashion brands can trace their supply chain and measure their ecological and social impact. The financing round was led by, among others, BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund. The investment must help Fairly Made to strengthen its position as a leader in sustainable fashion technology.
New standards for B CORP certification
B Lab has introduced new standards for B CORP certification, the biggest revision in 19 years, to encourage companies to become more impactful action. The point system is replaced by compulsory performance within seven themes, including climate action, human rights, honest work and environmental management, with reassessions to guarantee progress. The new guidelines are intended to help companies create value for all stakeholders and fit with international sustainability frameworks, creating a clearer framework for corporate social responsibility.
Simplifyber raises 12 million dollars
The Biobased Materials Startup Simplifyber has raised 12 million dollars in a new financing round, led by Suzano Ventures. The company developed the biodegradable fiber Fybron, which is injected into mold forms via a 3D printing process, making traditional production processes such as weaving and sewing overflow. The investment is used for the expansion of production, scientific development, business development and new facilities. Simplifyber previously worked with the Danish fashion brand Ganni on a shoe design.
New Association as a successor to the clothing covenant
The Netherlands has a new textile association as a successor to the clothing covenant that ended at the end of 2021. The covenant runs for five years and focuses on honest work and sustainability in the clothing, textile and shoe sector. Modint, Inretail, Global FNV, FNV and CNV International are involved parties. Companies participating in future legislation and get access to tools, training courses, experts and automated monitoring.
New Chatbot Josie
On Fashion Revolution Day, the AI-Chatbot Josie was launched by sustainability expert Jasmien Wynants and lawyer Judith Bussé to combat Greenwashing in the fashion industry. Josie helps companies to control their sustainability communication according to European and Belgian/Dutch legislation. The tool focuses primarily on marketers and copywriters, who often use unconsciously vague or misleading terms such as “sustainable”. Josie offers advice and access to an online Academy for 29 euros per month. Governments welcome these types of initiatives.
Bol uses less cardboard and glue
BOL saves 28 percent CO₂ emissions thanks to a new packing method in which less cardboard (27 percent) and glue (60 percent) are used. The e-commerce giant successfully tested two adapted ‘mono-in-package machines’ and will roll out this technology, in collaboration with CMC, in his distribution center in Waalwijk for the next two years.
