The recently released Materials Market Report 2023 has unveiled a substantial surge in global fibre production, marking a significant milestone for the textile industry. For the past decade, the report has been a pivotal resource, providing comprehensive insights into global fibre and materials production volumes.
The report highlights a remarkable increase in global fibre production, reaching a record 116 million tonnes in 2022, up from 112 million tonnes in 2021. Projections indicate a further surge to 147 million tonnes by 2030 if current practices persist.
Notably, the percentage of natural fibres with sustainability initiatives witnessed a slight uptick, including cotton (27% in 2022, up from 25% in 2021) and wool (4.3% in 2022, up from 3% in 2021). However, the production of virgin fossil-based synthetic fibres also rose, with polyester maintaining its dominance at 54% of global production in 2022.
While the combined share of recycled fibres slightly decreased from 8.5% in 2021 to 7.9% in 2022, the report signals a need for an accelerated shift to fibres from preferred sources. The decrease was largely attributed to a decline in recycled polyester's market share, from 15% in 2021 to 14% in 2022, influenced by challenges in PET bottle availability and textile-to-textile recycling scalability.
Key takeaways underscore the urgency to reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based materials and invest in strategies that dissociate value creation from new material extraction. The report advocates doubling efforts to transition to sustainable fibres, promoting environmental responsibility in the global textile industry.
Read the full report here.
