SCAP 2020 Progress report

Overview

SCAP signatories have already met the water target and are well on the way to meeting the carbon target ahead of 2020.

Alongside these improvements however, WRAP’s Textiles Market Situation Report 2019 shows that the UK is disposing of more clothes in the residual bin, meaning more is ending up in landfill or incineration. These results show that much more work is required, and by many more businesses outside of SCAP 2020, to keep pace with the UK’s love of clothes.

There is one year left of SCAP 2020, and the latest data (for 2018) show the following achievements:

• The water target has been met and exceeded, with a reduction of more than 18% against the 15% target. Sourcing from Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) suppliers is a large contributor to this.

• At the current rate of progress (13.4%), WRAP is confident that the 15% reduction in carbon will also be met. This improvement is due to several factors, including changes in the proportions of different fibres used, and increased use of sustainable cotton.

While excellent results continue against these targets, waste remains a harder area for signatories to influence:

• Signatories have reduced whole supply chain waste by 1.4% against a target of 3.5%. Supply chain transparency is improving, but more work is needed to tackle supply chain waste and it is unlikely that the 3.5% target will be met by December 2020.

• The amount of clothing in the residual waste, and therefore ending up in landfill or incineration, has increased by 10% since 2014/15. This is challenging for signatories to reduce, as we buy more clothing than ever in the UK. During 2020, encouraging re-use and recycling behaviour amongst citizens will be key to making progress towards this target.