Effective Circular Models and Strategies for Fashion Brands (Full Report).pdf

Key takeaways from the report "Effective Circular Models and Strategies for Fashion Brands" include:

  1. Resale as a Decarbonization Strategy: Resale is a meaningful strategy for reducing carbon emissions, especially for premium apparel and outdoor brands. By 2040, resale initiatives could lower annual carbon emissions for these brands by 15-16%.
  2. Maximizing Product Value in Resale Market: Brands can maximize emissions benefits by increasing the value of their products in the resale market. Minor changes to resale program parameters can have outsized effects on emissions benefits.
  3. Operational Control and Revenue from Used Products: Brands can maximize the greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting benefits of resale programs by maximizing operational control and used product revenue. This allows brands to capture the Scope 3 emissions reductions as used items inherently have lower carbon footprints than new items.
  4. Supply Chain Decarbonization: All brands should invest in supply chain decarbonization, as most emissions occur within the supply chain. This includes updating designs to eliminate production waste, sourcing more recycled materials, and installing lower energy machinery.
  5. Differentiating Strategies Based on Product Lifetime: The most effective strategies for decarbonizing short-lived and extended-life products differ. Brands can differentiate decarbonization strategies based on product lifetimes to more easily test, identify, and scale solutions that work for their business.
  6. Circular Models for Growth and Sustainability: Circular models, such as resale, are necessary investments for brands to reduce carbon emissions as they grow. Understanding where and how circular models effectively reduce carbon is an essential first step for brands.
  7. Collaboration and Innovation: The circular economy is still nascent and poised for evolution. Brands and stakeholders are encouraged to collaborate in enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of circular models for decarbonization.