The American Circular Textiles Coalition (ACT) is calling on the Biden Administration to incorporate textiles into its plan to maximise federal purchases of sustainable products and services.
As part of Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the proposed Sustainable Products and Services procurement rule, unveiled on 1st August, aims to achieve net-zero emissions from federal procurement by 2050. It updates purchasing standards to prioritise sustainably made goods from US companies.
Proposed through the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council, this rule would reinforce directives for federal buyers to prioritise sustainability.
It would also align federal purchasers with the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendations for sustainable products and services across 34 categories and avoid purchasing products containing PFAS chemicals.
ACT, a coalition comprising circularity-focused companies and brands like H&M and Reformation, submitted public comments to emphasise the inclusion of textile circularity in the rule. US textile waste has grown by 80 per cent since 2004, making it the fastest-growing waste stream.
ACT believes integrating textiles into the rule can significantly reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and boosting the economy.
