Support for SMEs’ contributions to tackling the nature and biodiversity crisis in the fashion and textile industries

Project report

Werner, A. and Burcikova, M. 2026. Support for SMEs’ contributions to tackling the nature and biodiversity crisis in the fashion and textile industries. Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP).

Publication dates
Type	Project report
Title	Support for SMEs’ contributions to tackling the nature and biodiversity crisis in the fashion and textile industries
Authors	Werner, A. and Burcikova, M.
Abstract	Against the backdrop of an urgent need for change of the fashion and textile industry towards more sustainability, this report explores how nature positive action can be embedded in Textile and Fashion SMEs. It examines what financial and other support is required to achieve this, and how SMEs can develop their environmental reporting to aid investors and other stakeholders in making decisions. Given that the main pressures on nature in the fashion and textiles industry occur at the beginning of the value chain, the main focus of this report is on innovative SMEs that seek to transform value chains towards more sustainability, with some attention also given to SME adopters of nature-positive practice (e.g. retailers, brands) and their sourcing practices. The case studies highlight businesses that provide natural fibres from regenerative sources for products and brands. The report draws on a rich qualitative dataset consisting of 28 semi-structured interviews with businesses, financiers and intermediaries, as well as on relevant academic and grey literature.
Keywords	Fashion and Textiles; SMEs; Finance; Biodiversity; Nature-Positive; Sustainability
Sustainable Development Goals	12 Responsible consumption and production
	9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
	15 Life on land
	17 Partnerships for the goals
Middlesex University Theme	Sustainability
Publisher	Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP)
	Centre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research (CEEDR), Middlesex University London
Print	Jan 2026
Publication process dates
Deposited	06 Feb 2026
Output status	Published
Publisher's version	File Access Level Open
Web address (URL)	https://cusp.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fashion-and-Textiles-Report-web.pdf
Related Output
Is described by	https://cusp.ac.uk/projects/politics/sme-finbio/

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