Creating material change: Forum For The Future and Textile Exchange: A shared vision for fibres

Here I am inviting you to read the vision outlined here that is the MMCF (Man Made Cellulosic Fibres) industry’s response to what they themselves call ¨unprecedented call to action¨: MMCFs such as Viscose/Rayon, Lyocell, Modal and Cupro constitute the second most important group of cellulosic fibres after cotton, with an annual production volume of around 6.7 million tons annually - or approximately 6.2% of the total fibre production volume. Prior to COVID-19, MMCF volumes were expected to increase rapidly over the next 15 years, possibly reaching 10 million tons annually.

The MMCF value chain has the potential to tackle some of the apparel and broader textile industry’s most significant sustainability challenges and, as a consequence, make a very real contribution to building resilience and accelerating regeneration. Its unique prospects for realising circular fashion, for instance, contrast sharply with the linear models of

economic growth that have left many of our ecosystems on the verge of collapse. As a derivative of wood pulp and other natural plant materials, MMCF can play an important role in regenerating many of these ecosystems, as well as ensuring the health of carbon sinks, which play an essential role in stabilising the Earth’s climate.

To date, however, the sector has faced considerable social and environmental challenges – from deforestation and biodiversity impacts related to raw material sourcing, to safe chemical use and labour rights concerns in the production process. As an industry on the cusp of massive growth, there is a narrow window of opportunity to fully harness MMCF’s potential.