Textiles: The 6 Rs of Sustainability

What is Sustainability & How Can We Support it?

In textile manufacture and design, sustainability involves creating fabrics in an environmentally friendly way, which involves using less water, waste and energy.

This also means using fewer chemicals to dye materials and print on them. As this is our business at maake, here’s what we do to inspire our customers in the fashion and clothing industries. 

Follow Our Lead & Be Sustainable

At maake, we focus on sustainability. We eliminate waste by offering free recycled fabric offcuts to customers, in upcycling bags of different sizes. And we do our utmost to be sustainable in every possible way we can: 

·     Zero waste: We offer those free upcycling bags as part of our Zero Waste policy. We also offer excess fabric free of charge to local charities, schools, and educational institutions.

·     We save energy: We have installed energy-saving cut-off switches on all the machines we use to produce material and to print on fabric. This way, the machines consume less energy when not in use.

·      We focus on sustainable innovation: We consider the environment when we print on fabric. We try to use as little water, energy, and reduce waste.

We use 100% renewable energy sources. Our processes use 95% less energy than regular textile printers and we use no water.

The energy used to print at maake is less than what is required to run a home fan heater. And the inks we use for printing are all sustainable, toxin-free and safe for children.

·      We "buy local": We purchase everything locally that we need for our business. Customers can also pick up their orders from our North London mill, to reduce our carbon footprint instead of paying for delivery fees.

·      We pride ourselves on our safe, clean working environment: Our team enjoys safe, healthy working conditions. And all earn the London Living Wage.

·      We shop small: As we are a small company in the fabric industry, we understand how important it is to support small businesses. Check out our Guide to Sustainable Fabric Printing.

·      We maakeLess Fabric Waste: We encourage customers and colleaguues to give fabric a second life and become more sustainable. Our maakeLess Fabric Waste Initiative also gives people in our industry an opportunity to be more sustainable.

''Fashion entrepreneurs lead the charge for sustainable progress, embracing the United Nations' goals. Through powerful partnerships, we tackle challenges and seize opportunities, driving change across industries. Together, we shape a sustainable future for all entrepreneurs.''  – Artemis Doupa, maake Co-Founder

Consider Your Environmental Impact 

The world has redefined sustainability several times since being aware of one’s “environmental impact” was the Brundtland Report, first published in 1987. Also called Our Common Future, it was created by the United Nations in recognition of the former Norwegian Prime Minister, Gro Harlem, who was also the Chair of the World Commission of Environment and Development.

It talked about the importance of sustainability is important, from every perspective, including the economy, social pillar issues, and everyday life.

So what should we be doing?

We should be considering our generation and future generations, too. We should also consider how important sustainability is to the economy, the environment and people.

The 6 Rs of Sustainability

It all started with the mantra: “reduce, reuse, recycle” and has grown from there. Now there are 6 Rs of sustainability. 

They include:
1.     Reduce
2.     Reuse
3.     Recycle
4.     Rethink
5.     Refuse
6.     Repair

These focus on sustainable products, which is our business, and yours. They explain the importance of sustainability in our daily lives and encourage us to lead a zero-waste lifestyle.

They also provide practical ways to consider sustainability when we purchase products, use these items, and later discard them. 

Let’s break down the 6 Rs of sustainability:

1.     Reduce

We should reduce the number of items we own, how we eat and the way we live.

We’re not saying that you should reduce essential items. One should drink a certain amount of water daily, and eat nourishing foods to stay strong and healthy. But the lesson is to stop being excessive. 
It makes sense: the less we consume, the less we will waste.

When it comes to clothing, there’s the very sad issue of fast fashion, where manufacturers have to keep up with the ever-growing demand for new items so their customers can follow the latest trends. As trends come and go, many garments are discarded the moment they are unfashionable, and end up in landfills.

Read our informative blog, The Problem With Fast Fashion, for more information.

We suggest you remember the saying: “I use only what I need”. This doesn’t only apply to clothing: it applies to the food you eat, the way you live and work. 

So, how can you reduce waste?

Let’s take plastic. Manufacturers produce this substance in vast quantities. They manufacture numerous plastic products, including fast-food containers, plastic bags for carrying groceries and plastic bottles.

Plastic is polluting our oceans and causing the organisms that live in the sea to perish as a result. So, if we can reduce the amount of plastic we use, we’re becoming more sustainable.

Sadly, many fabrics are made from plastic, including Recycled Polyester, which is created from plastic bottles. Remember this when you purchase a garment, as this can also make a huge difference.

Water is another precious resource we need to conserve. We're not suggesting you stop drinking water, but there are so many ways you can save water. Try having a quick shower instead of a leisurely one, and be mindful: don’t let the tap run when you wash the dishes or brush your teeth.

You can also use leftover bath water to water your garden. Be innovative; find different ways to reduce water consumption.

2.     Reuse

Your goal should be to reuse or repurpose as many items as possible, and give them a second life. If you have clothing or toys, for instance, that your kids have outgrown, donate them to a charity. The more you donate or give away, the less you waste.

Be creative in your thinking: old glass bottles could make great vases. If the bottles have lids, use them to store herbs and spices, lentils, rice and pasta. Fill decorative bottles with olive oil and vinegar and use these for daily meals.

You can sell furniture, décor items, tableware, and working appliances on Facebook Marketplace or organise a home garage sale. You can also donate items to a charity or charity shop. Or find out about vintage stores, some of which offer you a chance to provide them with clothing on consignment, and when it’s sold you receive a percentage.

Before you replace something in your home, ask yourself whether you could reuse it, or repurpose it?
Use your initiative; give items a new life. Instead of purchasing a plastic cup with your takeaway coffee, bring a handy, reusable thermos cup or bottle for the barista to fill.

Don't buy plastic bags at the supermarket; use a reusable shopping bag. Reuse gift wrap and cut up old towels to make rags. 

When it comes to clothing and décor accessories like tableware, cushions etc, don’t choose the latest good-looking item at fast fashion outlets like Zara and H&M, who also offer décor accessories; rather frequent markets and vintage stores to find something reusable or gently worn. 

Read Why Sustainability in Fashion is an Environmental Necessity.

3.     Recycle

You’ve probably already been recycling, but this is to remind you to recycle as much as you can, at home and work. You should be doing everything you can to eliminate waste, which is why you’re recycling in the first place. So your last resort is not to throw something away. Remember: the less waste in landfills, the cleaner our air and water will be.

These days, there are plenty of recycling facilities available. You’ll find recycling bins for batteries, electronic items, glass, paper, cardboard, and plastic. Take advantage of these.

It should be second nature to recycle any items that one can reuse to make another product. This saves resources and reduces emissions, which means you’re also saving money.

Start by recycling at home. To feed your garden, don't only use water from washing the dishes, or the bath. Use water you’ve used to boil rice and other vegetables to feed your garden. And start a compost heap.

Then, before you rush off to purchase something made from fabric, think about whether you can’t recycle something you already have and reuse it.

Read our Guide to Fabric Recycling for some inspiration.

4.     Rethink

We used to act as if the planet had endless resources, but we’re waking up to the fact that these are diminishing rapidly. So we need to rethink refuse (waste).

We need to consider how we live, and how we can preserve our natural resources (e.g. energy and water). This way, we can use these precious resources more sparingly, as they need to be  available for future generations.

Be aware of everything you do and how it impacts the environment. Ask yourself: “Can I do this more sustainably?”

You don't have to buy brand new clothes, accessories and lifestyle products. Rather visit a second-hand store and pick up something there. 

Consider how you can reduce plastic packaging and how you can be more sustainable at work.
Before you buy another product, ask yourself if you need it. By consuming more products, we’re creating more, and discarding more.

The waste we discard ends up in landfills and this contributes to the greenhouse gases that are damaging our climate.

Are the products you buy made ethically; designed for “people, planet, profit” and the environment? Are they made of recycled raw materials? Can you recycle them?

5. Refuse

IIn this context, “refuse” means to refuse to do something, not “refuse”, as in “waste”. Maybe it's describing the way you refuse to buy something new, or are stopping yourself from using a plastic straw.

Refusing to do these things mean we are trying to stop harming the environment. We're not buying items we don’t need, or, we are first asking ourselves whether the item is necessary before we purchase it.

Look at your lifestyle from a different perspective. Find sustainable ways to do and use things every day.
Why not use a paper packet or wrapping instead of a plastic one for packing school lunches? Or take a reusable bottle for water instead of a plastic one? Every effort counts.

6. Repair

Don’t throw something away if it’s broken before asking yourself whether you can fix it.

If you tear an item of clothing, a tailor can fix it for you. You can glue certain items together and continue using them. Take your faulty mobile phone to a repair shop, just as you take your washing machine or microwave to be fixed when it stops working. Repairing is far less expensive than replacing an item, and it’s also more sustainable. 

We’re so used to easy consumption that we often don’t consider repairing instead of replacing an item. Try to extend the lifecycle of your belongings. You will always find someone who can help you fix it.

What's Changed in 2026?

These days, the 6 Rs of sustainability are becoming easier to follow, thanks to various legislations in the EU that have changed the rules around fabric waste. Let’s take a look:

1.        Refuse & Reduce

In the EU, since 19 July 2026, it’s illegal to destroy unsold items of clothing. The law states that large EU manufacturers are not permitted to destroy unsold items of clothing, accessories and footwear. The same will apply to medium-sized manufacturers from 2030 onwards. Of course, this law covers garments, not fabric, but it stops brands from destroying perfectly good garments that they have as excess stock. Instead, they must either resell them, donate them to charity or recycle them into something else.

2.        Recycle

In 2025, the EU revised their Waste Framework Directive and advocated for member countries to set up EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) schemes for fabrics and footwear being sold into the EU have to fund the collection, reuse and recycling of these items. The schemes will be fully operational by 2028. It is most likely that the UK will follow suit in the near future.

3.        Digital Fabric Passports

We recently wrote a comprehensive guide to the Digital Fabric Passport, introduced in the EU in July 2026. This system, which is accessible by using a QR card or NFC tag sewn into the fabric gives the history of the fabric’s journey, from being grown as a plant to being made into a garment of clothing. When the marker is scanned, you find out how the fibre was grown, produced into fabric, dyed and treated. It gives data on the chemicals used to dye the textile and produce the garment, plus how to care for and repair the piece, as well as recycle it.

Prioritise Sustainability in the Textile Industry 

We are often oblivious about how we harm our environment. But now it’s time to wake up and take action.

To help you use sustainable fabric, here are two valuable, informative guides on sustainability in the textile industry. These will assist you in being more sustainable when you manufacture, design, and print on fabrics:

1.     Need assistance choosing eco-friendly fabrics for your products? Read our Guide on Sustainable Fabrics here.
2.     If you’re in the fabric business, find out Why it’s Important for Your Business to be Sustainable.