The Challenge

Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) such as Viscose/Rayon, Lyocell, Modal and Cupro, form the second biggest cellulosic fibre group after cotton. The MMCF value chain has the potential to tackle some of the apparel and broader textile industry’s most significant sustainability challenges and, as a consequence, make a very real contribution to building resilience and accelerating regeneration. Its unique prospects for realising circular fashion, for instance, contrast sharply with the linear models of economic growth that have left many of our ecosystems on the verge of collapse. As a derivative of wood pulp and other natural plant materials, MMCF can play an important role in regenerating many of these ecosystems, as well as ensuring the health of carbon sinks, which play an essential role in stabilising the Earth’s climate.

To date, however, the sector has faced considerable social and environmental challenges – from deforestation and biodiversity impacts related to raw material sourcing, to safe chemical use and labour rights concerns in the production process. As an industry on the cusp of significant growth, there is a narrow window of opportunity to fully harness MMCF’s potential.

The MMCF 2030 Vision aims to do just that.

Download the MMCF Vision

The solution: a shared Vision for MMCF 

Led by co-convenors Forum for the Future and Textile Exchange, the most significant industry players and stakeholders in the MMCF value chain have developed an ambitious shared vision for unleashing the fibres’ untapped potential for building socio-economic resilience and regenerating our social and natural systems so that we avoid or reduce the likelihood of future shocks. 

Five areas for action 

The MMCF 2030 Vision sets out five interrelated areas for ambitious and collaborative action along the entire value chain: 

1. Regenerating ecosystems: Restoring natural ecosystems, ensuring a carbon negative value chain, and taking regenerative landscape approaches
2. Producing with zero harm: Managing chemicals and other inputs, zero emissions and closed-loop production systems
3. Enabling circular systems: Designing, incentivising and implementing circular value chains and zero waste
4. Creating prosperity: Distributing economic value equitably, applying living wage and equality, universal access to education & healthcare 
5. Upholding rights: Community empowerment and related access rights, protecting the rights of individuals, indigenous peoples and other communities

The Vision components are underpinned by ten critical enabling factors needed for delivery, including new forms of financing, accelerated routes to scaling innovation, and an enabling policy environment.

Download the MMCF Vision

What you can do

This Vision can only be achieved through both individual and collective action. It can now be used by all stakeholders along the MMCF value chain to inspire more transformational strategies, operational and sourcing policies, funding flows and collective innovation in order to ensure the Vision becomes a reality. The various applications of the Vision include:

• Producers can use it to benchmark and set their strategic ambitions,
• Brands can use it to review their sourcing strategies and policies,
• Non-profits and other change makers can use it to quantify the impact of their work, and
• Investors can use the Vision to set stipulations in line with their sustainability ambitions. 

Join us in making this Vision a reality

Textile Exchange’s MMCF Round Table and Hub will serve as a space to review progress, set objectives, learn together and move towards the Vision. To further explore what role you might play, visit the Textile Exchange MMCF Round Table. 

Webinars

On 13 July 2020 we held two webinars dedicated to learning more about the MMCF Vision, what the industry will do next and how you can use it to help achieve your goals. 

Asia-friendly webinar

Speakers:

• Boris Saraber, Director of Operations at Earthworm Foundation
• Krelyne Andrew, General Manager for Sustainability at Sappi
• Sharon Chong Choy, Vice President for Sustainability at Sateri International
• Dr. Sally Uren, Chief Executive, Forum for the Future
• Liesl Trusscott, Director - Europe and Materials Strategy, Textile Exchange
• Anna Warrington, Director, Forum for the Future-India
• Simone Seisl, Consultant Fiber and Materials, Textile Exchange

View the recording here

US-friendly webinar

Speakers:

• Boris Saraber, Director of Operations at Earthworm Foundation
• Peter Bartsch, Sustainability Director at Lenzing
• Cherie Chan, Vice President Communications and Sustainability at APR   
• Dr. Sally Uren, Chief Executive, Forum for the Future
• La Rhea Pepper, Managing Director, Textile Exchange
• Anna Warrington, Director, Forum for the Future-India
• Simone Seisl, Consultant Fiber and Materials, Textile Exchange

View the recording here

Get in touch

For any other enquiries, please contact Anna Warrington at [email protected]  

Who’s involved: 

Convenors:

Supporters: 

With input from over 50 individuals and organisations including producers, suppliers, brands, INGOs, and standards organisations. 

Partner quote

“Amid the demand for reforms toward the realization of a sustainable society on a global scale, as well as in the fashion industry, it is essential to accelerate the establishment of a circular economy through transparent production processes with low environmental impact and sustainable materials which have high traceability. MMCF is a material with various characteristics that can meet these needs and we are convinced that activities such as the MMCF Vision will be collectively taken forward by all those involved to ensure MMCF become a more sustainable material that is needed by the world.”

Mr. Eisaku Maeda, Senior General Manager, Bemberg Division at Asahi Kasei Corporation

To find out more about Forum’s work on Sustainable Value Chains visit https://www.forumforthefuture.org/Pages/Category/supply-chains 

Photo by Zachariah Hagy on Unsplash