Seamless CEO Ainsley Simpson reflects on the six months since we commenced operations and celebrates how we’re all helping Australians to choose, enjoy and recycle their clothes more responsibly.
Seamless, Australia’s clothing stewardship scheme, commenced operations just six short months ago on 1 July 2024. Watch Ainsley’s video snapshot of what we’ve been up to, recorded in the Fitzroy store of Seamless supporter, HoMie.
Today, more than 300 organisations have registered as Seamless members and supporters. Their investment is funding our workplan, activities we’ve validated with members directly and through circularity action plan workshops. Some of these priorities are:
- Baselining the data that we will measure progress against
- Releasing circular design training - so our clothing is more renewable, recyclable and durable; and
- Working together to develop a national clothing reuse and recycling system
Along with member engagement, we’ve also convened the first Seamless Government roundtable with all states and territories to enable co-ordination on policy, programs and investment. And at the federal level we have engaged with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on pathways to regulation and our accreditation, as well as the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group. We also met with the Productivity Commission to examine opportunities in the circular economy to improve the productivity and efficiency of Australia’s materials.
Something we can all beproud of was the Seamless scheme receiving a prestigious Gold Australian Good Design Award in September.
We launched the Seamless RE:THINK Program which amplifies existing circularity initiatives – check out the reuse and recycling partnership between RCYCL, Salvos Stores and THE ICONIC and the repair and alteration solution from Hello Tailr. Keep an eye out for many more to come.
The first series of the Seamless Leadership Podcast launched with sustainability expert Clare Press as our host. The six episode series features candid insights from industry leaders like Sussan Group CEO Rebecca Hard and R.M. Williams CEO Paul Grosmann.
Our first four Seamless working groups were announced - they focus on: eco-modulating better practice; aged inventory management; scheme requirements for uniforms and agreeing a taxonomy of terms.
Our new clothing benchmark data launched at the first ever runway show at NSW Parliament. It’s the foundation and baseline from which we measure our shared progress. It will enable us all to track what is working well, and where improvement is needed as we collaborate toward clothing circularity in 2030.
So, as we close out 2024 – thank you for your collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement. We wish you a safe, circular and joyful festive season.
