On Tuesday 30 July, 2024, MYGroup announced that it has signed on as a participant in the Textiles 2030 initiative. The company’s ‘ReFactory’ team has also released its first line of accessories, which are made from textiles that were recovered and recycled at the newly opened factory in Hull.
Hull, East Yorkshire – MYGroup’s decision to join the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)’s Textiles2030 initiative signifies its commitment to promoting a circular textile economy in the UK. This initiative, which was launched by WRAP and is co-funded by the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in 2021, aims to reduce the environmental impact of textiles through a series of goals and targets to be met by the end of the decade.
Over 130 other signatories have also joined the initiative, including MYGroup, who has committed to achieving targets such as a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint of new textile products and a 30% reduction in water usage. The company is also focused on implementing circular business models and closing the loop on materials.
With its extensive experience and resources, MYGroup is positioned to play a significant role in shaping the circular textiles roadmap for the UK. The company’s decision to join the Textiles 2030 initiative comes on the heels of the opening of its sustainable textile factory in Hull.
The ‘ReFactory’ team at the Hull factory has recently launched two new accessory ranges, ‘Post-E’ and ‘FestivalWorks’. The ‘Post-E’ range features bags made from recycled iconic red textiles previously used in the British postal service, while the ‘FestivalWorks’ range includes festival and rave-inspired items with high-vis accents made from reclaimed industrial-grade personal protective equipment (PPE).
As a signatory to Textiles 2030, MYGroup will work closely with the Government, leading companies, charities, and academic institutions on various activities such as pilots and policy working groups.
Steve Carrie, Group Director at MYGroup, expressed the company’s excitement about joining the initiative, saying, “Joining Textiles 2030 amplifies our influence in reshaping the textile industry towards sustainability. Together with the release to market of our Hull factory’s first accessory ranges, this partnership solidifies MYGroup’s position as a leader in textiles recycling and ensures we are integral to the conversation in driving the future of circularity in this space.”
Sophie Scanlon, Textiles Sector Specialist at WRAP, also acknowledged the company’s participation in the initiative, saying, “WRAP is thrilled to welcome MYGroup to our Textiles 2030 Voluntary Agreement. Our latest research shows that in 2022, 759,000 tonnes of textiles were sent to incineration or landfill. It is, therefore, crucial we work with solution providers and innovators to divert these valuable textiles towards reuse and recycling. We look forward to working with MYGroup alongside other industry leaders to spearhead circularity for the textiles industry through our Textiles 2030 program.”
MYGroup has a strong track record of pushing boundaries in its mission to ‘recycle the unrecyclable.’ The company has collaborated with leading UK brands such as Boots, Johnson & Johnson, and Harrods on various projects, contributing to significant reductions in landfill and incineration volumes.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.