Fashion for Good has launched the Mass Balance Demonstrator project, a collaborative industry initiative aimed at scaling the mass balance attribution (MBA) model for biomass-attributed PET in textile applications.
The project marks a significant step towards accelerating decarbonisation across the apparel value chain, addressing the gap between the demand for biosynthetic materials and the limited commercial-scale infrastructure available today.
Mass balance attribution, a chain-of-custody model widely used in industries such as renewable energy and sustainable forestry, allows renewable and fossil-based feedstocks to be mixed during production. Through a verified accounting system, the proportion of renewable input is tracked and allocated to final outputs, ensuring transparency and credibility.
In this initiative, renewable feedstocks such as agricultural residues and used cooking oil are integrated into existing polyester production systems. The resulting biomass-attributed PET is chemically identical to conventional polyester, but carries verified renewable input attribution, enabling brands to reduce their carbon footprint without requiring entirely new infrastructure.
Speaking on the initiative, Katrin Ley, Managing Director at Fashion for Good, said,
“We are at a point where the industry wants to move and adopt biosynthetics, but the production frameworks and commercial infrastructure haven’t caught up. The Mass Balance Demonstrator project is about closing that gap: building the impact and commercial evidence, the blueprint, and the feedback loops that will allow the MBA model to scale with integrity.”
The consortium behind the project includes key industry players such as Indorama Ventures, BESTSELLER, Beyond Yoga (Levi Strauss & Co.), ON, Paradise Textiles, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), ISCC, UPM Biochemicals, and Textile Exchange.
The project is structured around four core objectives:
- Producing biomass-attributed PET materials at scale
- Quantifying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions through a cradle-to-grave model
- Developing a roadmap for industry-wide adoption and scalability
- Informing global climate frameworks and sustainability standards
By demonstrating that renewable feedstocks can be integrated into existing systems, the initiative aims to create a practical pathway for scaling sustainable materials without disrupting current manufacturing ecosystems.
With the Mass Balance Demonstrator project, Fashion for Good is advancing a scalable, credible solution for decarbonising polyester production. The initiative not only supports immediate emission reductions but also lays the groundwork for broader adoption of next-generation materials across the global fashion industry.
