Key takeaways:

• Partnerships enable fashion and design companies to achieve environmental and social sustainability goals while delivering additional benefits. 
• Depending on their objectives, businesses can team up with different organizations across industries, from tech innovators to forward-looking suppliers.

Why Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

As this popular African proverb suggests, collaboration is key to “going far” in any industry. One of the most effective forms of cooperation is through partnerships, which play a vital role in achieving key objectives across various fields. 

This is especially true in areas where the challenges are complex, multifaceted, and global in scope, such as the sustainability realm.

Businesses are increasingly recognizing that, while individual efforts are important, they alone are not sufficient to drive the transformational and systemic change needed for sustainable development. [1]

This perspective is gaining momentum in industries like fashion and design, where collaboration not only helps reduce environmental impact but also brings about other positive outcomes.

The Benefits of Sustainability Partnerships in Fashion and Design

Beyond their efforts to reduce environmental footprint – the fashion industry alone contributes to 10% of global carbon emissions [2]– companies in this field can leverage joint efforts to achieve additional impactful goals: 

• Spark innovation, unlocking cutting-edge materials, technologies, and processes that set them apart. [3]
• Optimize supply chains for efficiency and cost reduction. [4]
• Elevate their image, building trust and loyalty through compelling stories of transparency and impact – exactly what today’s consumers demand. [5]

To achieve their objectives and unlock these benefits, brands can seek out partnerships across different industries, each offering unique strengths and expertise.

Exploring Different Partnership Models in Fashion and Design

Depending on their goals, businesses can form various types of cooperation with, for example: 

• Visionary ingredient suppliers
  The choice of materials can make or break environmental sustainability efforts. Partnering with suppliers specializing in recycled, organic, or regenerated ingredients like ECONYL® nylon can help create conscious and groundbreaking items that set them apart from competitors. Also, collaboration with innovators to develop biodegradable materials or plant-based leathers can further support innovative product offerings. 
• Tech companies
  Advancements in technology offer new solutions to old problems, and partnerships with tech firms can accelerate the shift toward sustainable development. By leveraging tools like 3D printing, businesses can reduce material disposal, energy consumption, and emissions compared to traditional manufacturing. [6] Recognizing this potential, also mass-market companies with high-volume production are taking steps to improve their environmental impact. For instance, Decathlon is teaming up with Unspun – a fashion tech company – to change apparel development using its innovative 3D weaving technology, Vega, with the goal of minimizing textile waste and overproduction. [7]

• Textile recyclers and second-hand marketplaces
  Many fashion and design brands are exploring opportunities to give new life to old items through recycling, repair, or resale, closing up the loop in their product lifecycle. Gucci has partnered with The RealReal, a second-hand clothing platform, to launch a dedicated e-shop allowing customers to sell their Gucci items, giving them a second life and supporting the growth of the resale market. [8]
• Social impact organizations and brands
  Partnerships with non-profits, governments, and other brands play a critical role in ensuring conscious practices and supporting marginalized communities. The TOCCO Collection – born from a collaboration between pba, RainlightSTUDIO, Kay Sargent, IUAV and Aquafil – combines social and environmental responsibility, catering to neurodiverse needs and featuring a design optimized for easy disassembly and recycling.

But how do we initiate these partnerships, and what challenges might we face along the way? 

Let’s Hear from Brands about their Sustainability Partnerships

ECONYL® has become a key ingredient for numerous businesses committed to driving environmental sustainability. Among these are Object Carpet and Asahi Kasei, prominent leaders in the carpet and chemical/textile industries. Below, Nico Janssen, Business Development Director at Object Carpet, and Naoya Otsuka, Manager of New Business Development at Asahi Kasei, share their journeys, experiences, and insights, highlighting how collaboration drives innovation and fosters meaningful change.

1. What initially inspired you to team up with Aquafil and use ECONYL® nylon? How has the partnership helped shape or elevate your sustainability initiatives so far?
Nico Janssen: “The primary motivation for our partnership with Aquafil is the alignment of our values and commitment to transforming the textile industry. Both of our companies recognize that the methods of production employed over the past decades are not sustainable for the future. We have found a partner who, like us, is dedicated to driving meaningful change through both action and innovative solutions. By incorporating ECONYL® nylon, Aquafil has enabled us to significantly reduce our environmental impact while upholding the highest standards of carpet product quality.”

Naoya Otsuka: “The idea came from discussions with ITOCHU. Europe has been prioritizing sustainability more than other regions, and we were looking for a way of using our Carbon Nanofibers (CNF) material in this context. ITOCHU proposed the possibility of partnering with Aquafil. As a result, last October we announced the development of a 3D printing material combining ECONYL® and CNF. This initiative has raised awareness both internally and externally, not only about our material but also about our commitment to sustainability.”

2. Could you share specific examples or achievements that showcase the impact of the partnership?
Nico Janssen: “Last year, Object Carpet introduced the DUO carpet product family at the Berlinale. These carpets feature a construction using only two material types: ECONYL® and polyester, bonded by an innovative adhesive made entirely of polyester. After use, the two components can be separated through the application of heat, enabling their return to the recycling loop. Aquafil’s R2R program is a valuable addition to our product range. The R2R label, signifying ‘Born Regenerated to be Regenerable’, identifies carpets made from ECONYL® yarn and designed for easy separation. This ensures that anyone purchasing the carpet or removing the carpet at the end of its life can clearly recognize its recyclability. The partnership between Aquafil and Object Carpet through the R2R project underscores the power of collaboration in driving sustainability innovation. Beyond the success of the Berlinale, the Art Verona fair was another notable highlight, where we had the opportunity to create a bespoke DUO carpet crafted from ECONYL® yarn. This exceptional piece, known as the ‘Art Verona’ carpet, featured a striking design by the renowned artist Ugo Rondinone, making a lasting impression on those who saw it.”

Naoya Otsuka: “Following our press release and conference presentations, we got inquiries about our 3D printing material, particularly regarding its sustainability aspects. We are actively carrying out these business discussions from various angles, and this has been a significant milestone for Asahi Kasei, especially as a Japan-based company. Aquafil and ECONYL®’s strong reputation in Europe helped us to develop new transactions and collaborations beyond the continent.”

3. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for this cooperation, and how do you envision working together to drive innovation and achieve even greater milestones?
Nico Janssen: “We are excited to have redesigned our products and launched carpets made from ECONYL® with an exceptional potential for recycling. However, this represents only one part of the solution. The next critical step is ensuring that they are returned after 10 years of use and are properly recycled. To achieve this, further investment will be necessary in key areas such as return logistics, digital product passports, and the development of material collection and separation capabilities. Establishing a closed-loop system for used carpets will provide Aquafil with valuable nylon feedstock for its depolymerization processes, ensure a steady supply of sustainable recycled content for Object Carpet, and solve a significant waste issue for the environment. This creates a true win-win-win scenario for all stakeholders involved.”

Naoya Otsuka: “The collaboration between Aquafil and Asahi has enabled the development of a new material for innovative manufacturing methods. Unlike traditional approaches, 3D printing can produce only what you need when you need it while minimizing material waste, equipment (i.e., molds), and energy consumption. Combining ECONYL®, a regenerated ingredient, with CNF, a bio-based material, contributes to a circular economy and sustainability in the manufacturing industry. However, challenges remain, including higher costs, and determining with certainty whether people are willing to pay more for its environmental benefits. Together with Aquafil, we would like to address these issues by providing appropriate information and fostering a correct understanding of our material, striving to create a “real” circular economy.”

From Ideas to Action: The Path Forward
Would you go fast on your own or far together? As the partnerships described underline, by teaming up, businesses can truly achieve goals that would be out of reach when working alone.
To explore how we can go further as one, join our webinar, where we’ll delve into impactful, lasting, and transformative collaborations.

[1] “Partnerships for Sustainable Development: Collective Action by Businesses, Governments and Civil Society to Achieve Scale and Transform Markets”, Harvard Kennedy School, available at: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/mrcbg/programs/cri/files/PforSD(Exec_Summary).pdf
[2]“These facts show how unsustainable the fashion industry is”, The World Economic Forum, available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/01/fashion-industry-carbon-unsustainable-environment-pollution/
[3]“The added value of partnerships in implementing the UN sustainable development goals”, Journal of Cleaner Production, available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652624002415
[4]“The added value of partnerships in implementing the UN sustainable development goals”, Journal of Cleaner Production, available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652624002415
[5]“Sustainability Partnerships: What They Are, Why They Matter and How They Work”, Forbes, available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevitasek/2024/02/15/sustainability-partnerships-what-they-are-why-they-matter-and-how-they-work/
[6] “Significance of 3D printing for a sustainable environment”, Materials Today Sustainability, available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2589234723001057
[7]“Decathlon And SF-Based Fashion Tech Company Aim To 3D Weave Your Pants”, Forbes, available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/eshachhabra/2024/10/15/decathlon-and-sf-based-fashion-tech-company-aim-to-3d-weave-your–pants/ [8]“Gucci and The RealReal Announce a Game-Changing Partnership”, Vogue, available at: https://www.vogue.com/article/gucci-the-realreal-partnership-secondhand-consignment