YKK Corporation has joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network to demonstrate its commitment to advancing the circular economy. YKK partners with many fashion brands that engage with the Foundation to drive circularity in the industry, becoming a member of the Foundation’s Network was a logical step to enable deeper collaboration among stakeholders.
With the release of the A New Textiles Economy report in 2017, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation brought the impact of the fashion industry into the spotlight and prompted many industry stakeholders to take action in order to unlock the environmental and economic benefits that a circular economy for fashion can bring to the economy, the environment, and society.
YKK has been working to protect the planet through its products and processes and is further committed to actions and developments that are aligned with the Foundation’s circular economy principles.
The circular economy is based on three key principles: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.
Currently, YKK is focused on the development of products designed to work with garment recycling systems and digital product passports. The development of these and other technologies will be the key to ensuring that future garments will satisfy the needs of users and unlock opportunities for brands and retailers to develop products for circular business models, such as repair, remaking, rental, resale, and recycling.
By becoming a member of the Foundation’s Network, YKK hopes to connect with the leading players across industries, learn how to better promote circularity, and collaborate in new developments of products that can activate circular business models in the fashion industry.
