Textile Waste news and archive

Euratex’ ReHubs initiative to unveil roadmap to industrialise textile circularity by 2032

ReHubs, an initiative by the European Apparel and Textile Federation (Euratex) launched in 2020 to tackle Europe’s huge textile waste problem, will unveil a new strategy and tactical action plan to industrialise textile circularity by 2032. The new strategy is meant to be an “industry-wide roadmap and portfolio of initiatives designed to unlock...

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Fashion |REPORT

Textile recycling market predicted to hit 11.88 billion USD by 2030

The recycled textile market could be worth more than you’d think, as the global sector is showing signs of significant growth. Driven by a rising demand for sustainable materials, government regulations promoting circular economy practices, and urgent environmental challenges, a new report indicates the global textile recycling market could be...

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Fashion

90 percent of US imported second-hand garments are reused domestically in Guatemala

The global secondhand clothing market doesn’t necessarily carry a good name, as textile waste from developed countries has been disproportionately impacting countries from Ghana and Kenya to Uganda and Nigeria, according to Bank & Vogue. With many third-world countries lacking the proper infrastructure to handle the sheer volume of imported used...

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Fashion |Opinion

Why fast-fashion is harming second-hand – and what we can do about it

June ended with yet another blow to Europe’s struggling post-consumer textiles sector: Texaid Germany filed for insolvency. This is a significant setback for the group and for the broader reuse and recycling ecosystem. Just as European policymakers begin to treat textile waste with the seriousness it deserves, the very infrastructure needed to...

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Fashion |STUDY

Glimpact study reveals 90% of a garment’s environmental impact happens before it’s made

It's no secret that the fashion industry is a rather dirty one. The ecological impact of apparel production has been closely followed over the years as climate change awareness continues to gain traction. For example, textile production is estimated to contribute approximately 20 percent of global clean water pollution, primarily due to dyeing...

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Business|Interview

Managing discarded clothes at source - German start-up Recyclehero shows how

With around 5.5 kilograms of used clothing per capita per year, Germans are not only the top exporters of used textiles in the EU, but also worldwide, surpassed only by the USA and just ahead of UK. These clothes are a burden on people and the environment, not only in their own country, but also in the Global South, where the clothes often end...

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Fashion

Ghana says reports of a "tsunami of textile waste" is inaccurate

Reports of a textile waste crisis in Ghana have been debunked by the country’s Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association, who challenge beliefs of uncontrolled pollution and waste. Ghana is the world’s largest importer of used clothing, with most clothing ending up in Kantamanto in Accra, the world's largest second-hand clothes market. The...

How (not) sustainable is the fashion industry?

Fashion and 'sustainability' don't actually go together. A garment is usually made in such a way that it quickly goes out of fashion. In the fashion industry there is not only stylistic obsolescence, but also technical obsolescence. Some clothing is of such low quality that it tears, pills or loses its colour after a few wears and washes. Ideal...

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Fashion

Apparel industry unites to address textile waste management

The textile industry finds itself at a critical juncture in its journey towards sustainability, as its ecological impact accounts for more than 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recognition of the pressing need to tackle this issue, well-known brands such as Adidas, Bestseller, C&A, H&M Group, Inditex, and VF International have...

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Fashion

EU tripled exports of used textiles, says environmental report

Between 2000 and 2019, the amount of used textiles exported from the EU tripled, from a little over 550,000 tonnes to almost 1.7 million tonnes, according to a report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The latter is equal to 3.8 kg per person, which is about 25 percent of the 14.8 kg of clothing, footwear and household textiles...

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Fashion

In New York, one non-profit looks to combat textile waste

The fashion industry generates tons of fabric waste each year, notably in New York -- one of the world's shopping capitals and host twice a year to runway shows, a major contributor to the wider problem. Enter Fabscrap, a non-profit organization dedicated to recycling and reusing textiles that are unsuitable for donation. Every day, 3,000 pounds...