What The Microfibre Consortium does

The Microfibre Consortium (TMC) is a UK-registered non-profit organisation limited by guarantee, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear. Its mission is to work towards zero impact from fibre fragmentation from textiles to the natural environment by 2030. TMC convenes a global community of brands, retailers, manufacturers, accredited laboratories, and academic researchers around the Microfibre 2030 Commitment, providing the scientific infrastructure, data, and standards needed to measure and reduce fibre shedding during textile design, production, and use.

TMC's core products are the TMC Test Method and the Microfibre Data Portal. The Test Method is a standardised laboratory protocol co-developed with the University of Leeds and the European Outdoor Group, using gravimetric analysis with a Gyrowash device to quantify fibre loss from fabrics under simulated domestic laundering; it is aligned with ISO 4484-1 and AATCC TM 212. The Microfibre Data Portal is described as the largest global repository of fibre-fragmentation data, housing results from over 1,500 tested fabrics alongside detailed technical specifications, and is supported by a Reference Point Methodology for industry benchmarking. Around these core assets, TMC publishes research reports (Root Cause Analysis, Behind the Break, Annual Insights), manufacturing and sustainability guidance documents, and e-learning courses, including work delivered jointly with the ZDHC Foundation on wastewater control of fibre fragments.

TMC operates a membership-based revenue model: signatory membership fees are tiered by annual organisational turnover, billed annually, and supplemented by in-kind contributions from partners and voluntary donations from supporters. The organisation also maintains an accredited laboratory network of 60+ commercial labs (including Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Hohenstein, Eurofins, and TESTEX) that perform the TMC Test Method for a fee set independently by those labs. TMC's strategic direction centres on four pillars — Align, Understand, Mitigate, and Empower — pursued through research collaborations with the University of Leeds and Northumbria University's FibER Hub, partnerships with Fashion for Good, the ZDHC Foundation, and the Roadmap to Zero programme, and engagement with policymakers via its Policy Committee.

Name

The Microfibre Consortium

Legal name

The Microfibre Consortium Limited

Website

https://microfibreconsortium.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Microfibre Consortium is a UK-based non-profit that convenes apparel brands, retailers, manufacturers, and researchers to address textile fibre fragmentation through a standardised test method, the world's largest fibre-shedding database, and the Microfibre 2030 Commitment framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile Sustainability Research and Testing Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Textile Testing, Compliance & Quality Assurance (CRAAAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK), Microbiology & Sterility Assurance (Bioburden/Endotoxin/Sterility) (HLAGADAE)

Keywords

• Textile fibre testing
• Microfibre pollution research
• Fibre fragmentation analysis
• Sustainability membership programs
• Apparel environmental standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitley Bay

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Signatory Membership Fees: Core funding from signatory fees tiered based on annual organisational turnover. Enables TMC to finance its team, primary operations, and foundational research enquiries.
2. In-kind Funding: Additional support received through in-kind contributions from partners and signatories.
3. Donations: One-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual donations from individuals and organisations to support the organisation's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Microfibre Consortium is a science-led non-profit organisation that develops and operates standardised testing methods, a global fibre fragmentation data platform, and a collective industry commitment framework for the textile sector. Its core offerings are the TMC Test Method (a gravimetric protocol for measuring fibre shedding from fabrics), the Microfibre Data Portal (the largest global dataset of tested fabrics), and the Microfibre 2030 Commitment and Roadmap that convenes brands, retailers, and manufacturers to drive down fibre fragmentation from textile production.

Product overview

The Microfibre Consortium operates as a science-led non-profit offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services focused on mitigating fibre fragmentation from textiles. The core offerings consist of the TMC Test Method (a standardised laboratory protocol for measuring fibre shedding via gravimetric analysis) and the Microfibre Data Portal (the largest global database on fibre fragmentation with over 1,500 tested fabrics). These are supported by the Microfibre 2030 Commitment and Roadmap, which provides the strategic framework for industry-wide coordination. The portfolio also includes research reports (Root Cause Analysis, Behind the Break studies, Annual Insights), guidance documents (manufacturing guidelines, sustainability strategy recommendations), educational resources (Fibre Fragmentation 101, e-learning courses), and the Reference Point Methodology for benchmarking. All offerings work together to help brands, retailers and manufacturers understand, measure and reduce fibre shedding across textile design, development and manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TMC Test Method
• Microfibre Data Portal
• Microfibre 2030 Commitment and Roadmap
• Root Cause Analysis Report
• Behind the Break: Exploring Fibre Fragmentation Closing Study
• Annual Insights Report
• Manufacturing Guidelines: Control of Fibre Fragments in Wastewater
• Practical Recommendations: Fibre Fragmentation in Wastewater
• E-Learning Course: Control of Fibre Fragments in Wastewater
• Reference Point Methodology
• A Feasibility Study: Using Wastewater Monitoring to Track Fibre Fragment Release
• A Feasibility Study: Biodegradability as a Solution to Fibre Fragment Pollution
• A Comparative Study: The Effect of Recycled Polyester on Fibre Fragmentation
• Practical Recommendations: Fibre Fragmentation within Sustainability Strategies

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 fabrics tested and analysed in the Microfibre Data Portal
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, foundational, historical/core and supporting.

• Fashion for GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Collaboration on 'Behind the Break' project investigating root causes of fibre fragmentation during manufacturing and enhancing testing methodologies. Includes publishing the 'Behind the Break: Exploring Fibre Fragmentation' report and closing study comparing established test methods.
• Northumbria UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on FibER Hub (Fibre-fragmentation and Environment Research Hub) established in 2025 to investigate fibre fragmentation. Located at Northumbria University to conduct deep research into root causes of fibre shedding.
• ZDHC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2022Strategic collaboration to address microfibre pollution in manufacturing wastewater. Combined ZDHC's expertise in sustainable chemical management with TMC's science-led expertise on fibre fragmentation. Joint initiatives include feasibility studies on wastewater monitoring, snapshot guidance for brands and suppliers, and e-learning courses on fibre fragment control in wastewater.
• biov8tionfoundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-founded TMC in 2018 based on early work initiated by Sophie Mather at biov8tion. Founder Sophie Mather co-founded TMC and served as Executive Director until 2023 leadership transition.
• University of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research collaboration for development of the TMC Test Method. Partnership began in 2017 with EOG, continued with validation work published in peer-reviewed journals. Funded research technician and PhD to investigate root causes of fibre fragmentation using the TMC Test Method.
• European Outdoor Grouphistorical/coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPredecessor organisation that initiated the Outdoor Industry Microfibre Consortium with biov8tion in 2017. Partnered with University of Leeds on foundational research into test methodology. EOG continues as a signatory and member of Technical Committee.
• James HealsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment supplier for the TMC Test Method. Gyrowash device (James Heal's colour fastness tester) used in testing. TMC and James Heal collaborated on first public demonstration of fibre fragmentation test in November 2023.
• Roadmap to ZerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to drive collective action on fibre fragmentation. TMC's roadmap and commitment framework aligned with ZDHC's Roadmap to Zero Programme. Joint e-learning platform hosted on Roadmap to Zero Academy.
• One Percent for the PlanetsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental giving programme partner. Listed as a partner organisation supporting TMC's mission to reduce fibre fragmentation impacts to the natural world.
• Testing Laboratories (Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Hohenstein, Eurofins, TESTEX, KAKEN)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor60+ global accredited laboratories form the testing network for the TMC Test Method. Labs receive accreditation to perform testing and upload results to the Microfibre Data Portal. Testing network spans UK, France, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Thailand, and Bangladesh.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fashion for Good: Fashion sustainability innovation platform that convenes brands, manufacturers and innovators. Direct strategic partner on the 'Behind the Break' project, with overlapping signatory base and similar convening/membership model.
• Sustainable Apparel Coalition: Industry coalition producing the Higg suite of sustainability tools for apparel and footwear. Operates a similar membership model with shared data/reporting goals across overlapping signatories such as Nike, Adidas, H&M and Patagonia.
• Textile Exchange: Non-profit operating the industry standards framework for preferred fibres and materials (e.g. GRS, RCS, OCS). Comparable because it convenes brands and suppliers around a measurable sustainability commitment with reporting infrastructure, just as TMC does for fibre fragmentation.
• ZDHC Foundation: Industry coalition driving zero discharge of hazardous chemicals in textiles. Direct strategic partner of TMC (joint wastewater work, Roadmap to Zero alignment) and the most directly comparable mission-aligned non-profit serving the same apparel/footwear value chain.

Broad incumbents

• bluesign technologies: Sustainability certification for textile manufacturing covering resource efficiency, chemical management and worker safety. Comparable as an industry-membership certification scheme but oriented to chemical/environmental compliance across mills rather than fibre shedding.
• Intertek: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) major accredited to perform the TMC Test Method. Comparable as a textile testing infrastructure provider that both extends and could compete with TMC's methodology as the market matures.
• OEKO-TEX (Hohenstein Institute): Long-established textile testing and certification system (Standard 100, Made in Green, etc.). Comparable as a textile testing/certification regime with global accredited lab network, but covering broader chemical and product safety rather than fibre fragmentation specifically.

Emerging players

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Materials-level circularity and safe-by-design certification. Tangentially comparable as a non-profit product/materials standard, but focused on chemistry and circularity rather than fibre-shedding measurement and mitigation.
• Worldly (Higg): Sustainability intelligence platform hosting the Higg Index for apparel/footwear. Comparable as an industry data infrastructure play for textile sustainability, though more general environmental/social metrics versus TMC's specialised fibre-fragmentation data.

Others

• European Outdoor Group: Industry association that incubated TMC's precursor (Outdoor Industry Microfibre Consortium) and remains a strategic partner. Comparable as the trade body that originated and continues to support TMC, with overlapping outdoor-brand membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-microfibre-consortium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Microfibre Consortium