The Textiles Circularity Centre Launches On 24 May
The Textiles Circularity Centre, funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), will officially launch on Monday 24 May 2021.
The Textiles Circularity Centre (TCC) proposes materials security for the UK by circularising resource flows of textiles.
This will stimulate innovation and economic growth in the UK textile manufacturing, SME apparel and creative technology sectors, whilst reducing reliance on imported and environmentally and ethically impactful materials, and diversifying supply chains.
The TCC will provide underpinning research understanding to enable the transition to a more circular economy that supports the brand ‘designed and made in the UK’. To enact this vision, we will catalyse growth in the fashion and textiles sector by supporting the SME fashion-apparel community with innovations in materials and product manufacturing, supply chain design, and consumer experiences.
Led by the RCA’s Professor Sharon Baurley, with Professor Phil Purnell (University of Leeds) as co-director, and working in collaboration with Cranfield University, University of Cambridge, University College London, University of Manchester and University of York, the TCC supports better social, economic and environmental outcomes - working also with a wide range of partners from industry, the NGO sector, and the public sector.
The TCC is a four year award of £5.4m; one of five circular economy centres funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres Programme.
The centre aims to turn post-consumer textiles, crop residues and household waste into renewable materials for use in textiles to catalyse growth in UK manufacturing and the creative industries.
It aims to develop new supply chains, textile production, design and consumer experiences, while reducing the UK’s reliance on imported and environmentally and ethically impactful materials.
The launch is part of the wider UKRI National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) Programme, a four-day event running from 24 – 27 May will introduce the five National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres and the Circular Economy Hub.
The NICER Programme is the largest UKRI investment focusing on Circular Economy (CE) to date. The £30 million investment supports five National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy research centres, of which the Textiles Circularity Centre is one.
UKFT’s CEO Adam Mansell is participating in the launch event for the Textiles Circularity Centre on 24 May and sits on the advisory board. He said: “There is a real opportunity for the UK fashion and textile industry to become a leader in circular supply chains and to harness the full benefits that UK manufacturing can offer. We look forward to uniting research and industry in this exciting project.”
Schedule
Monday 24 May
10:00 – 12:00 Textiles Circularity Centre
13:00 – 15:00 Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials
Tuesday 25 May
10:00 – 12:00 Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy
13:00 – 15:00 Interdisciplinary Centre for Technology Metals Economy
Wednesday 26 May
10:00 – 12:00 Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Metal
Thursday 27 May
10:00 – 15:30 Whole Programme Launch, led by the CE-hub
