World Circular Textiles Day | The Global Mapping Project 3D Visualisation

02. Solution: The Global Mapping Project

Where are we in our transition to a circular textiles industry? 

And how do all the individual efforts across the globe add up to the change we need?

Using creative coding and visualisation technologies, Holition created the Global Mapping Project - a compelling 3D data visualisation that reflects over 600 global initiatives across 74 countries in support of WCTD’s vision of achieving full circularity by 2050.

As the first-of-its-kind 3D data visualisation, The Global Mapping Project explores circularity progress from around the world across the themes of Materials, Product & Services and People.

By tagging the collating case studies according to their date of commencement, geo location and the circular themes and strategies they relate to, we begin to see the sheer scale and variety of circular initiatives worldwide, as they build over time.

Particles in the 3D data visualisation build up chronologically to show the progress WCTD has made over the past few decades, slowly revealing a global map.

Every particle on this map represents an individual circular textiles initiative. As the planet rotates the particles illuminate to represent the theme they belong to.

Through creative data visualisation, the Global Mapping Project also casts a light on the diverse initiatives that contribute to each distinct circular strategy found within the Circle Economy’s ‘8 Key Elements of the Circular Economy Framework' - visualising the collective progress that have been made, and casting a light on areas that need further attention and development.

The Global Data Mapping Project was revealed at the World Circular Textile Day: Turning Vision Into Action Launch Event, held at The Conduit in Central London.

With the theme of "Global Perspectives and Priorities on Circular Textiles", the event focussed on understanding the commonalities and distinctions among key stakeholders from the East, West, North, and South. 

The programme included a live panel discussion with the following key industry thought leaders: Martin Boeschen, CEO of Texaid; Tricia Carey, Chief Commercial Officer at Renewcell; Caitrin Watson, Director of Sustainability at Shein; and Jonathan Chippindale, CEO of Holition.

03. Insight: A Global Map of Collective Action.

Through the Global Mapping Project, we are charting the momentum towards a 100% circular textiles and apparel industry by 2050, by collating data on what and where circular activity is happening around the world, and who is driving it.

The 3D data visualisation is a direct response to WCTD’s mission of reporting, reflecting and celebrating the progress that circularity is making, and to create a roadmap to get to full textiles circularity by 2050.

“This WCTD initiative has been our passion project this year. It aims to map and celebrate circularity initiatives from across the globe and towards 2050. We hope it will act not only as a record of achievement but also adding rocket fuel to our progress toward 100% circularity. Make sure your project is represented in 2024 by adding to the WCTD Knowledge Hub.” - Kate Goldsworthy, World Circular Textiles Day Co-Founder and Professor of Circular Design and Innovation at UAL.

1 Particle = 1 Individual Initiative.