E12: Seamless - Australia's Clothing Stewardship Scheme: Ainsley Simpson

Today, we are joined by Ainsley Simpson, a visionary leader making a profound impact on the future of fashion in Australia.

About Our Guest: Ainsley Simpson

Ainsley Simpson is the CEO of Seamless, Australia’s pioneering clothing product stewardship scheme. Seamless is an independent, not-for-profit organisation holding fashion and clothing brands accountable for the entire lifecycle of their garments, from design to disposal. With a mission to make Australian fashion truly circular by 2030, Seamless is tackling the immense challenge of reducing the 200,000 tonnes of clothing waste that end up in Australian landfills each year.

The Need for Seamless

The statistics speak for themselves. Each year, over 1.4 billion new garments are manufactured or imported into Australia, with the average Australian purchasing 56 new items annually. Most of these garments are made from non-renewable materials, and more than half end up in landfills, contributing to a staggering carbon footprint of 13 million tonnes per year. Seamless aims to address this crisis by creating a circular economy in the fashion industry.

Origins of Seamless

Seamless was born from a collaboration led by the Australian Fashion Council (AFC), in partnership with Charitable Recycling Australia, Queensland University of Technology, Sustainable Resource Use, and WRAP UK. While the scheme design was spearheaded by this consortium, Seamless now operates as a standalone entity, poised to drive systematic, transformational change across the entire clothing lifecycle.

Seamless: A World First

Seamless is the world's first circular product stewardship scheme, administered by Clothing Stewardship Australia. The scheme works with brands and stakeholders to prioritise nature and promote responsible clothing choices, enjoyment, and recycling. Funding for Seamless comes from a per-garment levy contributed by brands that join as members.

Key Priorities

• Building a Collective: Seamless is focused on bringing together a collective of brands and supply chain partners to drive change.
• Setting Baseline Data: Establishing baseline data metrics is crucial for measuring progress and impact.
• Forming Partnerships: Seamless aims to create strong partnerships across the industry to support its goals.
• Circular Design Practices: Developing circular design practices and eco-modulated criteria to incentivise sustainable fashion design is a top priority.
• Resilient Circular Economy: The ultimate goal is to build a resilient circular economy that prioritises the environment, people, and economic well-being.

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