Designing for a more circular future

What is circularity?

What do we mean when we talk about “circularity” in fashion? Or when we say that we are working to become a more circular business?

For us right now, circularity means designing and creating our clothes with the future in mind so that they can be worn time and time again, and then given a new life into new clothes or materials once our customers are finished with them.

Circularity requires a mindset shift, from the way we design, create and re-use clothing, and also to what we do with them once they have reached the end of their life.

How are we bringing circularity to life in Primark?

Introducing our first circular collection and Circular Product Standard

We’ve launched our first product range designed to be reloved or recycled using our new Circular Product Standard, which is based on principles established by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Our new Primark Circular Product Standard is a framework for how we intend to design products now and in the future. The standard will be used by our Product Teams and our suppliers to support our ambition that our clothes can be loved for longer and then recycled at the end of their life.

Our new Circular Product Standard was developed in consultation with circularity think tank Circle Economy and the non-profit sustainability educator Sustainable Fashion Academy. The new framework is built on the vision for a circular economy for fashion by our partner Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a global thought leader on the circular economy, and in consultation with climate action NGO WRAP. We also worked with Circle Economy and Sustainable Fashion Academy to develop a bespoke Circular by Design training programme which aims to educate our Product Teams and key suppliers in the theory and practice of a circular economy and how they can apply it in their day-to-day work.

Every piece in the collection has been designed and made to be reloved or recycled with a focus on three key parts: 

1. More sustainably sourced materials ¹ : the clothes in the collection are made from at least 95% cotton from the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme, which trains cotton farmers to use less water, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, earning an increased profit as a result. The other 5% is made up of trims, embellishments or buttons, which, where possible, have been designed to be removable or recyclable. 

2. Durability: everything has a life cycle, even clothes. But how long an item should last and what Primark, and customers, can do to extend its life is something Primark is challenging itself to address. This new collection has been tested for increased durability in line with Primark’s new enhanced durability wash framework ². You can read more about our work on durability here. 

3. Recyclability: every piece is designed to be recycled at the end of its life. This means, where possible, trims and buttons can be removed so the items can be more easily reused or recycled either into new fibres or new products. Customers can drop their pre-loved clothing off at their local textile donation point, which are currently available in all Primark stores in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. Our ambition is to offer this facility in all our markets in time, but it is important we get this right before we introduce it into other countries. There is also a growing network for recycling clothes and reselling clothes, made up of a variety of charities, companies, and local initiatives. Where the information is available, we have provided details of your local recycling facilities and initiatives here but you can also contact your local council to check what services they offer.​

Last year we piloted the Circular Product Standard framework, and this new collection is the result of the trial. We trained an initial group of designers, buyers and suppliers in circular design and based on how successful this was, we will now roll this training out to over 500 members of Primark’s Product Teams this year, along with additional selected suppliers.

Love your clothes for longer

Should your clothes need mending or reworking at any stage, we’re hosting repair workshops so you can learn to repair or upcycle them. A full programme and the ability to sign up can be found here Our Repair Workshops. As these workshops are currently not available everywhere, we’ve also created an online customer hub featuring easy-to-follow videos, covering everything from basic stitching to sewing on buttons and zips.  

We know circularity is a relatively new (and quite technical) concept so we’ve created a glossary of all the terms we use to help you understand what we mean when we talk about this collection and our ambitions in this space which can be found here Primark Cares Key Terms.

Some of our other work in this space

EMF And The Jeans Redesign

We know that we can’t make all changes alone, so since 2018 we’ve been working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, benefitting from their network, knowledge and expertise on how to embed more circular practices within our business. This covers everything from the design and materials we use, through to the production and manufacturing of our clothing and products. 

In July 2021, we extended our relationship with the Foundation by becoming a Network Partner and we now sit on their Fashion Advisory Board. Recognising that the best way to show progress in action is through product, we joined the Foundation’s Jeans Redesign Project last year. You can read more about our partnership here.

Cradle To Cradle Certified® Denim

In June 2021 we launched our first Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold certified mom-fit denim jeans. The Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard is a set of globally recognised criteria for safe, more sustainable products with a lower impact on the planet. They were 100% organic cotton, produced using less water and energy, made to last and designed to be recycled. 

Starting with the end in mind

We know this is only a small step in our journey to become a more circular business and we’ve more to do. It’s about taking real action to create positive change and while we’re not at the very beginning, we know it will take time. We also know that we cannot do it alone. But we’re ready and willing to go full circle on our mission to become more circular.