Australia

A new peer-reviewed study reveals that cotton-polyester blends, commonly used in everyday textiles, release significantly more microplastics than pure polyester fabrics. The research introduces a novel separation method to measure synthetic fibre shedding accurately, offering a validated approach to quantify microplastic pollution released during domestic and laboratory-scale laundering.

The Australian Wool Sustainability Scheme has introduced a comprehensive partner programme designed to strengthen supply chain engagement across Australia's certified wool industry. The initiative offers exclusive certification access, promotional recognition, and business benefits to stakeholders committed to responsible wool production standards.

Trump’s tariffs were designed to bring manufacturing back to the US but instead reshaped global supply chains. Ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein and Temu adapted by shifting production and targeting new markets like Australia. The result is an even faster, cheaper, and more exploitative fashion system with hidden environmental and human costs.

Challenging traditional design thinking with practical steps to enable change, a new practical guide provides a systematic and methodological approach to implementing circular clothing design in a way that all organisations can implement, regardless of size.

Technical textiles for construction sector can now use waste carpet material and other discarded textiles including clothing fabrics and firefighting uniforms to make concrete stronger. Field trials are on.

Recent investigations have revealed alarming levels of harmful chemicals in ultra-fast fashion items as retailers like Shein, Temu and AliExpress surge in popularity in Australia and across the globe.

In an attempt to measure the country’s progress towards clothing circularity, a country wide research in Australia has shed light on consumption and disposal traits, and also suggested ways on how to prevent items being unnecessarily sent to landfill.

The Australian Fashion Council has said that the kangaroo country’s fashion manufacturing industry has shed 18% of its value in the past five years but despite the downturn, key policy interventions, industry and government can together inject an additional $225m into the Victorian economy and create a further 1,500 jobs.

The Woolmark+ roadmap by Woolmark marks the launch of a major 13-point future-facing programme that aims to accelerate low-impact production, promote circularity and enhance animal wellbeing and woolgrower livelihoods.

Disease in cotton crop leads to an 8% reduction in yield and to check this the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), in its largest ever single investment in a first-of-its-kind collaborative approach, has forged a $13 million partnership with Australian cotton growers to mitigate its economic impacts.