South Africa's landscapes have been shaped over thousands of years by migrating herds of animals driven by the predators that follow. Today, farmers using a regenerative approach look to those same patterns for inspiration to manage livestock in natural ways that help the land and the wildlife that depend on it thrive.

As an Avery Dennison Foundation (ADF) grantee aligned with the foundation’s Environmental Sustainability pillar, Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit driving beneficial impacts for climate and nature across the fashion, textile and apparel industry. Its goal is to help the industry achieve a 45% reduction in emissions from producing fibers and raw materials by 2030, while keeping our focus holistic and interconnected and seeking to improve the state of our freshwater, soil health, and biodiversity too. According to the organization's Materials Market Report, fiber production reached 132 million tonnes (metric tons) in 2024. Nearly all clothing, from cotton shirts to wool sweaters and mohair scarves, starts with fibers like these.

Regenerative farming focuses on caring for the soil, water and wildlife on a farm, not just avoiding harm. Done well, it can leave land healthier than it was before farming began, while still supporting the people who depend on it for their livelihoods.

"The grant gave us the resources to go beyond our day-to-day operations and engage directly with farmers and other stakeholders to co-create practical approaches to regenerative agriculture," said Bronwyn Both, Regenerative Agriculture and Biodiversity Strategist, Textile Exchange. "It allowed us to move from developing guidance at a global level to testing how those ideas apply in a specific landscape, grounded in the experiences of the people working there. Our goal is to equip producers with practical, locally relevant case studies, while giving the wider industry trusted evidence of real-world outcomes."