Swedish Fashion Industry Sustainability Award for Defra & WRAP

The Swedish fashion industry has awarded a prestigious sustainability award to the UK Government's Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) together with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). The 2013 Global Leadership Award in Sustainable Apparel was won by WRAP and Defra for the Sustainable Clothing Roadmap and Action Plan (SCAP) – a UK initiative that aims to reduce the environmental impact of clothing throughout its lifecycle. The scheme is aimed at reducing textiles sent to landfill, helping to develop markets for reuse and increasing recycling. According to WRAP the award highlights the work already underway in the UK, and recognises its leadership, together with Defra in initiating SCAP, and for demonstrating that government support is crucial if clothing and fashion industries are to respond successfully to global challenges. The international sustainability award was developed by the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA), together with the Association of Swedish Fashion Brands and other partners, in order to promote initiatives within fashion and sustainable development. Michael Schragger, director of the SFA, explained that the clothing industry can lead the way towards a more sustainable society and that the depletion of natural resources, the destruction of the environment and the existence of social injustices represent a threat to future economic growth and social wellbeing. However, he added that the situation also provides the opportunity to transform the way we meet our needs, for the better. "Our ambition with the award is to draw attention to the most emphatic initiatives and thus hasten the process,” said Schragger. Lord de Mauley, Defra's resource management minister commented: “This award highlights our commitment to make better use of resources to improve economic growth, to reduce carbon emissions and to build a strong and sustainable economy," commented "With 430,000 tonnes of used clothing thrown away in the UK every year, there is huge potential for both households and businesses to think differently about how we produce, use and dispose of clothes,” he added. Read More Trash Talking: Textile Recycling Discarded textiles and clothing are in strong demand from markets across the world for reuse and recycling. Widely viewed as a resource, these materials offer great potential for recycling and a real revenue generation opportunity for local authorities and waste management companies. WMW asked some of the industry's key players for their views on the subject. £130m Recycling & Autoclave AD Biogas Plant for Wakefield Shanks Group is to build a build a residual waste treatment facility at South Kirkby, Yorkshire that will include an autoclave assisted anaerobic digestion plant to produce biogas, as well as recycling, composting and refuse derived fuel capabilities. Scrap Metal Dealers Bill Survives Lords Intact The passage of the UK government's Scrap Metal Dealers Bill through the House of Lords Committee Stage has been welcomed by the British Metals Recycling Association.