By: Karim Hammam
Global fashion brand "Theory", a subsidiary of "Fast Retailing", has received the 2026 Climate and Nature Impact Award from "Textile Exchange" in recognition of its efforts to reduce methane emissions from sheep used in wool production. The honor came during the organization's annual conference held in Vancouver, where pioneering initiatives in promoting sustainable and fair raw material production were celebrated.
"Theory" won the "Collaboration for Global Impact" award in partnership with "Congee" farm in Australia, environmental technology company "Sea Forest", and Italian wool mill "Punto Giuseppe". The project relied on testing the dietary supplement "SeaFeed" on 2,000 Merino sheep for 120 days. This experiment resulted in a 43 percent reduction in enteric methane emissions, helping to avoid approximately 54.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The wool resulting from this process was integrated into the "Regal Wool" Spring 2026 collection, linking farm-level climate innovation with finished fashion products.
Commenting on this achievement, Gonzalo Bertellini, Vice President of Sustainability at "Theory", pointed out that the project's results were very encouraging, emphasizing that the lessons learned regarding implementation, measurement, transparency, cost, and scalability are of strategic value. He expressed hope that this experiment will inspire other brands to adopt a new approach, collaborate across supply chain levels, and accelerate the transition toward low-emission and more resilient natural fiber systems.
The awards also witnessed the recognition of other initiatives in various environmental fields, including circular waste management, regenerative cotton agriculture, and textile recycling technologies. Among the honored companies was "Pore" for environmental solutions, which won the "Breaking Economic Barriers" award for its regenerative wool programs. Since 2020, its model has contributed to supporting 16 producers across approximately 17,000 hectares, mobilizing $350,000 in direct financing to support the transition toward regenerative agriculture.
