THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY INSET: Teemill shows off its circular credentials through the Remill take back and repurpose scheme.
DEALS WITHIN
WHEELS T ABOVE RIGHT: Products of Change’s advisor and circular expert, Arthur Parry.
RIGHT: The Little Loop’s founder Charlotte Morley with Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden.
FAR RIGHT: Teemill proudly shares its latest ocean plastic stat.
he Natural History Museum decided to mark Dinosaur Day – the day on which the UK gathers each year to celebrate the Mesozoic era (it’s on 1 June, stick it in the diary) - in a typically charming and planet-conscious fashion. Or should that read in not-sotypical fashion? Because it did so through a new partnership with the sustainable print-on-demand clothing specialist, Teemill. And in doing that, it brought licensing one step closer to the circular economy. Slightly easier to frame than Dinosaur Day, the circular economy is, as explained by Arthur Parry, Products of Change’s advisor and expert on circularity, “a model that takes inspiration from natural systems that don’t create any waste.” Or, in other words: “the output from one part of the system becomes the food for another.” Teemill is an expert in material circularity. Housed on The Isle of Wight, it’s a clothing manufacturer that works on a carbon neutral level and is recognised by the
World Economic Forum, the United Nations Environment Programme, and The Queen’s Award for Innovation for its pioneering approach to fashion industry circularity. This is because every item made by Teemill is designed – from the very start - to be sent back to Teemill once it has reached the end of its useful life, where it is broken down and repurposed into the next garment.
From Mattel and The LEGO Group’s individual toy take-back schemes to eBay’s tie-up with ITV’s Love Island to push pre-loved fashion, the circular economy has never been more in vogue. Products of Change explores its place in licensing. The company’s Remill programme acts to ensure that Teemill products never enter landfill. Its clothing is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, its factories are powered by renewable energy, and its print-to-order approach means waste is reduced to zero. “It’s a fine example of a business model,” says Arthur, “that is only making what they know is going to be sold. It’s an elimination of waste by design to begin with.”
22 PRODUCTS OF CHANGE I SUMMER EDITION 2022
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