Threads of Change: The sustainability revolution with recycled yarns
Have you ever looked at a sofa and thought about where the upholstery fabric comes from? It’s obviously from Home Fabrics if it’s a top quality product but think a little further. What is the providence of yarn of that fabric? Is it cotton? It is synthetic? Could it have had a previous life as a plastic bottle?
According to study findings reported in Furniture Today, almost three-quarters of consumers (72%) said that sustainability is a very or somewhat important a purchase consideration. This means they’re thinking about the origin of their furniture’s upholstery fabric and they’re quite interested in eco-conscious options. When considering eco ranges, assurance must be given to the consumer that, when a label says it’s made from recycled yarn, it truly lives up to the expectation of being a more sustainable option.
The big buzz of sustainability
Sustainability is every person’s responsibility. More than a buzzword, sustainable design has become an adopted philosophy across many industries that seek to use materials responsibly, produce something that lasts long and that doesn’t harm the earth through the course of its lifecycle. Sustainable design is shifting both the manufacture and consumption of products as we work towards preserving our natural resources and showing greater care for our planet.
Our future becomes sustainable when we all work together, and we're taking steps to get there because we believe that responsible design begins at home. This is why Home Fabrics is proud to offer products that have Global Recycled Content certification.
GRS and what it means
The Global Recycled Standard (the GRS) stipulates that a product must have 20% recycled content before it can be certified as a business-to-business tool.
“If a company wants to list the GRS on their consumer-facing labelling, the product must contain at least 50% recycled content.”
This is a transparent way of proving that any claims made about the recycled content of fabrics are true and can be easily checked. It’s a standard that can apply to all parts of the fabric manufacturing process, from spinning and weaving to knitting, including dyeing, printing and stitching in more than 50 countries. It goes further than the finished products, in establishing criteria for social and environmental principles in processing GRS certified products.
FibreGuard, one of Home Fabrics’ most popular product ranges, is a participant in what’s known as "Ecolabelling" - a voluntary method of environmental performance certification and labelling that is practised around the world. The entire chain of certification is voluntary and the process is annual. Every year FibreGuard’s easy clean fabrics are assessed for their production, trading and manufacture possesses to ensure that recycled content of the fabrics is authentic.
Why recycled fibres?
Fabrics that carry the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification are considered better for the environment due to several key reasons:
Reduced environmental impact: GRS certified fabrics are made from recycled materials, which means they utilise existing resources rather than relying solely on virgin materials. This significantly reduces the demand for new raw materials and helps in minimising the environmental impact associated with traditional textile production.
Energy conservation: The production of recycled fabrics generally requires less energy compared to creating materials from scratch. By using recycled fibres, GRS certified fabrics contribute to energy conservation, helping to lower the carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing process.
Reduced pollution: The recycling of materials for GRS certified fabrics helps decrease the pollution associated with extracting and processing raw materials. By avoiding the use of certain chemicals and processes involved in the production of new materials, GRS certified fabrics contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.
Encouraging circular economy: GRS certification promotes the principles of a circular economy by encouraging the reuse and recycling of materials. This approach aligns with sustainable practices, as it reduces the overall environmental impact and promotes responsible consumption and production patterns.
In essence, GRS certified fabrics play a crucial role in fostering a more sustainable and eco-friendly textile industry. By choosing these fabrics, consumers and businesses alike contribute to the global effort to minimise waste, conserve resources, and mitigate the environmental challenges associated with conventional textile production.
A more sustainable future
There’s no denying that textiles traditionally hasn’t been a sustainable industry but the sector is actively changing to reduce its environmental impact. Certifications like GRS show the commitment of textile producers to changing their businesses for the better and creating products that continue to be stylish, beautiful, and durable while reducing their environmental impact. Home Fabrics is happy to share its sustainability commitment and introduce you to the wide variety of eco-conscious, GRS-certified products in our range.
“Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.”
