The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) held its "Progress in Practice" sustainability conference on September 28, 2026, bringing together brands, retailers, manufacturers, researchers, recyclers and investors to discuss topics including bio-based materials, textile-to-textile recycling and traceability. The conference also launched The Circuit project, a collaboration between New Look, M&S, Sainsbury's, Oxfam and Circle-8 to convert UK post-consumer textiles into recycled feedstock, with the first phase set to begin in January 2027 at Oxfam's Batley site.

Key Points

  • The UKFT conference showcased innovations from 18 UK exhibitors, covering bio-based materials, advanced sorting, AI design and more.
  • The Circuit project is backed by New Look, M&S, Sainsbury's, Oxfam and Circle-8, launching in January 2027.
  • UKFT introduced new sustainability services, including green claims review and ESG roadmaps, opening soon to members.

The conference, themed "Progress in Practice," featured keynote speeches by Georgia Parker, Innovation Director at Fashion for Good, and Beatrice Oldenburg, Innovation Project Manager at the H&M Foundation. Four sessions explored next-generation fibers and materials, low-impact dyeing and finishing, textile waste valorization, and traceability and verification technologies. The core discussion centered on how to move innovation from pilot to everyday application, covering quality, price, volume, and the evidence, investment, partnerships and supply chain changes required. Case studies showed how companies are testing and adopting solutions, while panel discussions allowed attendees to examine practical barriers alongside developers and users.

The textile innovation showcase featured 18 UK exhibitors presenting bio-based materials, dyeing and finishing, textile-to-textile recycling, advanced sorting, and AI design and manufacturing technologies. Attendees could engage with innovation teams to learn about ways to reduce waste, transform resource use and extend the circular life of materials. UKFT also released an innovation member guide.

The conference announced the launch of several new sustainability services, opening soon to members, including sustainability clinics, green claims review, strategy and ESG roadmaps, standards and certification guidance, and responsible sourcing and ethical trade support. These services are designed to help members identify priorities and translate them into practical action.

UKFT thanked the speakers, exhibitors and attendees, as well as the Textile Livery Group for its continued support and the Drapers' Company for hosting the conference. Speakers came from organizations including UKFT, Fashion for Good, Tera Mira, 29acacia, Fibe, SEFF, PACT, Sustainabelle, Pentland Brands, Margaret Howell, Ponda, Sparxell, Demeter Bio, Amphico, DyeRecycle, The Mills Fabrica, Beyond Surface Technologies, Goldwin Venture Partners, Epoch Biodesign, Matoha, Recover, Primark, New Look, Marks & Spencer, Oxfam, Circle-8, Säntis Textiles, WEFT, Truss AI, Buyerdock, Haelixa, Tailorlux, Oritain, Techstyler, TextileGenesis, British Wool and others.

The conference highlighted the value of bringing all parts of the supply chain into the same conversation, and UKFT will continue to connect innovators with the industry, supporting businesses in evaluating, testing and adopting approaches that deliver lasting change.

Source: Progress in Practice: UKFT's Sustainability Conference brings textile innovation into focus · Originally published 2026-09-28