Primark has this week launched an updated version of its Circular Product Standard.
The brand says it aims to ’embed circular design more deeply across the business and increase the share of products built with durability, recyclability and more sustainable materials in mind’.
The retailer said its new Circular Product Standard 2.0 marks the next phase in its push to become a more circular business, building on three years of testing, learning and collaboration since the framework was first introduced in 2023.
The revised standard introduces a new ‘Progressive’ level, designed to raise expectations around materials, durability and recyclability, while also giving product teams and suppliers a more practical framework for everyday design decisions.
Primark said 5 per cent of all clothing units sold in the 2024/25 financial year were circular by design. Within specific categories, that figure rose to 20 per cent of jersey products and 8 per cent of denim.
Circular design is now reportedly embedded across nine key product areas, including denim, jersey, knitwear, nightwear, shirts, skirts, blouses, dresses and leisurewear.
According to Primark, the updated framework defines circular design around three core principles.
These are durability, so products can be worn for longer; materials, through the use of recycled or more sustainably sourced fibres; and recyclability, so garments are easier to process at the end of their life.
The retailer said the new standard has been designed to make circularity more achievable at scale, including through small but practical product changes such as reducing the depth of elasticated waistbands and removing non-functional trims like rivets that can make garments harder to recycle.
It has also identified more recyclable printing techniques and said the new Progressive level includes tougher expectations around the use of post-consumer recycled textiles.
Nicholas Lambert, head of circularity and materials at Primark, said: “As we relaunch and update our Circular Product Standard, we do so with the benefit of having learned a lot over the past three years.
“We know that we haven’t solved every challenge or answered every question – far from it. Instead, we hope this updated approach reflects our commitment to learn and continue to achieve progress, not perfection, in collaboration with our partners, suppliers and colleagues.
“We continue to firmly believe that circular fashion should be affordable for all. We hope that this updated Circular Product Standard 2.0 will support that ambition.”
Primark said it is also continuing to build knowledge of circular design internally, with training developed alongside partners including the Circular Textiles Foundation.
Buyers joining the business are offered training on circular design as part of that effort.
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