A study of circularity metrics in the fashion industry found that the CFX scores of 241 global brands rose from 2025. Japanese companies scored 0.6 points above the global average, with the 16 brands averaging 4.3. Regional differences also became clear, with UNIQLO newly entering the top 10.
A.T. Kearney published its 2026 Circular Fashion Index (CFX) report, which evaluates fashion brands’ circularity practices across the entire product life cycle on a 10-point scale. The study covered 241 brands in 21 countries and 5 product categories. The global average was 3.7, up from 3.4 in 2025. The 16 Japanese brands averaged 4.3, 0.6 points above the global average.
Regional averages worldwide were 3.9 for Europe, 3.7 for North America and 3.4 for Asia-Pacific, putting Japan at a relatively high level. The Japanese companies covered included 16 companies such as Adastria, ASICS and UNIQLO, with UNIQLO entering the top 10 for the first time in this edition.
There was a gap between the breadth of initiatives and the depth of implementation. While 73–84% of brands showed a certain level of activity against the assessment criteria for primary markets, only 3–7% had achieved broad implementation. The top-20% threshold rose from 5.8 to 6.0.
The report proposes linking regulatory compliance to 4 lifecycle value areas and states that it is important to connect regulatory compliance capabilities with market access and economic evaluations. Assessing value across the entire life cycle includes reducing excess inventory, securing access to materials, and maintaining residual and recovery value.