Planet Ark and the Australian Circular Fashion Conference (ACFC) have teamed up to promote a more sustainable fashion industry. ACFC will be held in Melbourne on March 21, 2019 and calls on fashion industry insiders and new entrants alike to find ways to turn the rag trade into the circular clothing economy. Speakers from organisations such as the London Chelsea College of Art, Filippa K and Kathmandu will connect with over 500 business leaders and consultants to identify ways in which waste from the industry can be reduced through recycling, while keeping costs down and productivity high. ACFC’s founder Camille Reed is excited for what will be the second conference following a successful launch in Sydney this year. “This event presents a pioneering opportunity which does not exist anywhere else in the world to invest in fashion sustainability to secure market growth and economic stability.” Planet Ark is also eager to tackle the issue of sustainability in fashion, an industry in which reports show that up to 73% of incoming materials are landfilled or incinerated. In Australia alone it’s estimated that 2.25m tonnes of residual waste is generated by the fashion industry. Also, changes to materials could help in the ongoing marine plastic pollution crisis, with half a million tonnes – or the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles – of microfibres from washed synthetic fibres entering oceans every year.
Keep an eye on Planet Ark news and social channels over the coming months to find out more about ACFC. In the meantime, click here for more information and registration options for the conference.