In a win for circularity, teamwork between the world’s greenest football club and most sustainable sportswear brand will see the first fibre-to-fibre mechanically recyclable match-day shirt take the field.
Groundbreaking English National League team Forest Green Rovers (FGR) has signed a formal four-year partnership deal with performance-wear pioneers Reflo, combining to score strongly on sustainability.
The new agreement will see Reflo supply FGR with training, technical and travel wear, as well as producing all of the club’s playing kits, with the brand operating in the role of Official Teamwear Partner.
Closed-loop economy in a footy shirt
Known for their standout statements and bold designs, the kits provided by Reflo add another level of ambition to the FGR sustainability mission. All apparel will be crafted from recycled materials, with even the playing shirt itself specifically designed for full recyclability through Reflo’s innovative Reloop technology.
These kits will set a new benchmark for responsible performance wear by providing the world’s first fibre-to-fibre mechanically recyclable football shirt, marking a revolutionary step for sustainable sports apparel.
The collaboration builds on the long-standing mission at FGR to integrate environmental responsibility into every aspect of the club, doing things Another Way. From vegan match-day menus to renewable energy and transport initiatives, FGR has consistently led the way in sustainable football.
Partnering with Reflo, the club is taking yet another decisive step towards making football a greener game.
The move represents a big win for circularity, explains Dale Vince, Chairman of Forest Green Rovers:
“In the last few years, we’ve pioneered the use of different materials in our first team shirts, like bamboo and even coffee grounds. The material matters. But what happens to the shirt at the end of its life matters as well.
“And until now it’s been hard to square the circle. With Reflo, we get the chance to create that circle, from raw material to kit, back to raw material — a closed-loop economy in a football shirt — pretty fabulous!”
Goal to change sportswear for good
At the core of the new partnership is Reflo’s pioneering Reloop technology.
This fully circular solution means that every element of the kit supplied is made from recycled materials, with parts that showcase Reloop technology also designed to be fully recyclable at end-of-life. This cutting-edge approach to production creates a more sustainable solution and closes the loop on fabric waste.
Furthermore, unlike other chemical recycling technologies with potential negative environmental impacts, Reloop is a fully circular mechanical solution designed to prevent teamwear from ending up in landfill.
The gameplan is to change sportswear, for good, says Rory MacFadyen, Co-Founder of Reflo:
“With 92 million tonnes of fabric waste ending up in landfill each year, we knew we had to find a better way. That’s why we developed Reloop, a fully circular, fibre-to-fibre recycling system that ensures football shirts don’t become waste at the end of their life, but are remanufactured into new products.”
The FGR link-up proves sustainability and high performance can go hand in hand, concludes MacFadyen:
“Partnering with Forest Green Rovers, a club that truly embodies sustainability in sport, is a landmark moment for us. Together, we are making history with the world’s first fibre-to-fibre mechanically recyclable football shirt. These kits aren’t just made from recycled materials, they’re designed to be recycled again.”
Forest Green Rovers 2025/26 kits will be revealed in the summer and sold via the club’s official online store.
Winning formation with Kane up front
News of the FGR partnership follows another announcement by Reflo last month that the brand has also been selected to make kits for Luton Town Football Club, as its Official Apparel Partner.
Reflo specialises in sustainable, technical sportswear for partners, teams and athletes at all levels. The performance-wear pioneer operates primarily within the EMEA region, specifically the UK, Europe, and the UAE, while also expanding its presence in the US, Mexico, and Japan.
In 2024, Harry Kane, England men’s football captain, announced himself as an investor and ambassador, marking a monumental milestone for the brand on the world stage.
Further Reading:
- More about sportswear brand Reflo; and its pioneering Reloop technology;
- More about football club Forest Green Rovers (FGR); doing things Another Way on sustainability;
- Also on SustMeme, Fibre reuse from old garments in circular workwear;
- Also on SustMeme, VCs back vegan biomaterials in luxury textiles;
- Also on SustMeme, Innovative leather alternative made from beer waste;
- Also on SustMeme, Calculating true carbon footprint of the World Cup;
- Also on SustMeme, Fashion waste landfill piled high as the moon;
- Also on SustMeme, Cruelty-free vegan sneaker uses cactus, not cows;
- Also on SustMeme, Plastic waste gets Recycled for Radness into eco snow gear.
Check out the full archive of stories on the SustMeme Circular Economy Channel, now available to Sponsor.
