The Apparel and Footwear Circularity Mapping highlights the leading, collaborative initiatives currently driving action across every stage of the circular fashion system. By making this landscape of activity visible, the mapping helps brands and retailers identify credible opportunities for engagement. It further supports identification of duplicative efforts and recognising where further coordination and collaborative efforts should be prioritised, whether by strengthening existing initiatives or establishing new, high-impact programmes.

A leading circularity initiative is a collaborative, action-oriented effort that plays a pivotal role in advancing circular systems in apparel and footwear. These initiatives tackle systemic challenges, engage diverse stakeholders, and deliver scalable impact across one or more stages of the system.

Inclusion criteria:

• Collaborative – Multi-stakeholder engagement (brands, retailers, suppliers, recyclers, NGOs, policymakers, etc.), enabling shared, pre-competitive progress.
• Systemic impact – Addresses core barriers with scalable solutions for long-term change across one or more stages.
• Relevant to brands/retailers – Provides actionable opportunities for alignment, engagement, and implementation support.
• Operational or in development – Active or with a clear roadmap and reputable partners.
• Transparent & accessible – Public-facing or membership-based with available information for industry participation.