Forest to Fiber: Next-Generation Pathways for Vermont and Regional Leadership in Wood-Based Fiber and Textiles

The potential for wood to replace plastic in woven and non-woven textiles is progressing rapidly, offering new market development opportunities across the Northern Forest region. Our new report explores some of the emerging technologies and markets that show promise for using pulp grade wood to replace oil-based plastics.

The Fibers Fund

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) and Fibershed established the Integrated Capital Fibers Fund to facilitate the investment of financial capital into a regenerative U.S. natural fibers and textile industry. The Fund is a direct response to the specific capital gaps identified in the SAFSF Fibers Roadmap Report and through the Fibershed Regional Fiber Manufacturing Initiative. The underwriting, loan disbursements, and portfolio management are managed by Mission Driven Finance. The Fibers Fund was honored to be selected for the 2023 Transformative 25 funds list! Learn more: fibersfund.com.

Textile Exchange Regenerative Agriculture Outcome Framework

The Regenerative Agriculture Outcome Framework aims to help the fashion, textile, and apparel industry align on outcomes for assessing the holistic benefits of regenerative agriculture. This open-source, fully documented framework draws on rigorous research and synthesis of work from other outcome frameworks, related sector methodologies (such as Science Based Targets for Nature and the GHG Protocol), and scientific literature. Most importantly, it respects and centers local farm community knowledge.

Textile Exchange Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis

This report provides a landmark framework for the fashion and textile industry to understand, communicate, and invest in regenerative agriculture. It emphasizes regenerative agriculture’s roots in Indigenous and Native practices, addressing the nuances needed for a holistic approach that puts humans and ecosystems at the center.

Pathstone Impact Report

Invited essay in Pathstone’s 2021 report, a compilation of insights from the field of regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems, created in response to the growing interest in regenerative agriculture among investors.

Croatan Institute Strategic Plan

Facilitated the Institute’s first strategic planning process, which took stock of their accomplishments and lessons learned in their first seven years and worked to assess and articulate the Institute’s values, vision, mission, as well as develop a more unified theory of change to guide its work over the next three years. The process included a series of focus groups with staff and fellows, a public stakeholder survey, and a set of individual interviews with key external stakeholders.

The SAFSF Fibers Roadmap

This new report, written for grantmakers and investors, draws on more than 60 interviews to lay out a seven-year vision for values-based investment and funding needed to support regenerative fiber agriculture and revitalize U.S.-based textile processing and manufacturing.

The Visual Roadmap

Taken together, the five Levers outlined in the Roadmap offer a vision for a coordinated national Roadmap that leverages multiple forms of capital to accelerate the development of a more just and resilient U.S. fiber, textile, and leather system. The Visual Roadmap summarizes these in graphic form.

Case Studies from the Roadmap

The 12 Case Studies highlighted in the Fibers Roadmap represent just a small slice of the innovative, place-based fiber system businesses that exist or are emerging across the country. Each one offers opportunities for funders and investors to deploy integrated capital approaches.

Supporting Work: Guidelight Strategies / Patagonia Report, Barriers For Farmers & Ranchers to Adopt Regenerative Ag Practices In The US

Conducted interviews and provided synthesis for this 2020 review, authored by Jennifer O’Connor of Guidelight Strategies, with a particular focus on equity and racial justice in the field of regenerative agriculture.

Common Threads

The Common Threads white paper provides background on the global fiber and textile industry for funders and investors who are new to the topic. The report covers the environmental and social impacts of textile production, the landscape of organizations and campaigns working on these issues, with an emphasis on the U.S., and opportunities for U.S. foundations and grantmakers to take action to reform this sector.

Foundation Impact Review, 2011-Present

This 2019 review offers a high-level assessment of the impact of one private foundation’s grantmaking against the landscape of larger developments over the funding period.