Sustainable manufacturing
CFIN is focused on supporting the industry to reduce environmental impact and waste from manufacturing processes from the production of apparel and textiles by 2025, and to achieve to Net Zero by 2050 globally.
The objectives of the sustainable manufacturing pillar are:
- Reshoring for real – exploring volume manufacturing in the UK: through apparel manufacturing parks, network manufacturing through tech and sustainable finishing machinery in denim.
- Enhancing existing UK manufacturing capacity: through automation and robotics, compliance requirements and guidelines and promotion of UK sustainable manufacturing.
- Decarbonising manufacturing: a focus on science and technology innovations in the textile dyeing stage, and zero-waste practices in apparel and textile manufacturing.
Activities
Reshoring for Real:
As part of the reshoring for real work package, UKFT has developed two pilots:
Pilot 1. Using AI technology to encourage re- shoring for the UK’s apparel industry through a distributed manufacturing network: This pilot aims to transform the UK’s apparel manufacturing industry by implementing innovative AI manufacturing technologies with existing manufacturers and accommodating small-batch, agile, Just in Time manufacturing to encourage reshoring of fashion production to the UK. Using ‘Manny’ an AI-powered production planning software, developed by UK-based tech start-up Pattern Project, a leading UK fashion retailer will implement the technology in their existing Leicester manufacturing base. The ultimate goal, after adapting ‘Manny’ to the current retailers’ test and repeat model and production cycles, will be to create a distributed manufacturing network.
Pilot 2. Denim finishing Near Shore Pilot: UKFT is working closely with LaundRE and a high-street UK retailer to demonstrate that onshore finishing of unwashed jeans is commercially viable for a UK brand. The finishing design and order from Bangladesh will be placed in the upcoming months.
Enhancing existing UK manufacturing capacity
UKFT organised a workshop with the Robotics Living Lab in May in which fashion and textile businesses/organisations were introduced to robotic integrator firms and run a workshop to engage in how they might use robotic processes, collaborative robots and agile tooling within their studio or a micro or SME factory setting.
UKFT also held two separate workshops (one with UK manufacturers and one with UK brands/retailers) to develop a Minimum Compliance Requirements guideline (both social and environmental).
Decarbonising manufacturing:
UKFT has launched the ‘Innovations in Textile and Apparel Dyeing’ report, which highlights the latest global innovations in dyeing within the textile and apparel supply chain, in collaboration with The Manufacturing Technology Centre. The aim of this report is to encourage innovators, brands, retailers and manufacturers to work together so that the industry can collectively achieve our environmental impact reduction goals. We believe that with its significant social, economic and environmental impact both domestically and internationally, the UK is uniquely positioned to drive this sustainability transformation.