Primark signs up to WRAP’s sustainable clothing plan

Five leading clothing brands and retailers including Primark and Peak Performance have signed up to WRAPs cooperative European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP) initiative, which aims to promote sustainable clothing across the continent.


The first wave of retailers and clothing brands signed up to ECAP – a project to bring environmental and economic benefits to the sector – on Thursday (10 November) including Primark, Bobo Choses, Peak Performance, OVS and Star Sock.

By signing up to ECAP, the participants will be working towards diverting 90,000 tonnes of clothing waste from landfill and incineration, save 1.6 million tonnes of CO2e and generate 588m m³ in water savings.

WRAP’s head of products, Sarah Clayton, said: “As the first participants of ECAP, these organisations are championing sustainable clothing across Europe. The wheels are in motion, but more can be done – we are looking to welcome and involve more brands, retailers, manufacturers, reuse and recycling organisations, charities and consumers in the plan to drive greater sustainability of clothing across Europe.”

The participants will benefit from support to help understand the current impact of their fibre footprint and to help devise a strategy to reduce impact. This includes selecting more sustainable alternatives, such as choosing more sustainable cotton sources.

Primark’s director of ethical trade Katharine Stewart said: “At Primark we are committed to reducing the impact that we have on the environment, and as part of that commitment we have signed up to the European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP). We look forward to working with ECAP and achieving our environmental sustainability goals.”

ECAP and SCAP

ECAP is made up of five prominent organisations from the UK, Netherlands and Denmark, including: WRAP-UK, MADE-BY, Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), the Danish Fashion Institute (DAFI), London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB). The initiative, which is supported by EU’s LIFE funding initiative, aims to divert more than 90,000 tonnes of clothing away from landfill each year in Europe by 2019.

Rumours of Primark’s intention to join WRAP’s European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP) and Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) initiatives were revealed earlier this year during a lively discussion amongst the audience of a session on fashion waste at the edie Live exhibition this year.

WRAP’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP), focuses on carbon, water, waste and full life-cycle waste reductions for clothing products. Signatories include Primark, ASOS, Sainsbury’s and Biffa. Since SCAP’s inception in 2013, the scheme has helped more than 50% of the UK retail market reduce supply chain water impacts by 12.5% per tonne of clothing.

Alex Baldwin

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