Textile Waste news and archive

First US GAO report calls for federal collaboration for reduction and recycling to combat textile waste

The first-ever report on textile waste from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is urging collaboration on a federal level to reduce textile consumption and increase recycling to minimize the impacts of textile waste. Textile waste, including discarded clothing, footwear, and other woven and non-woven textiles, has steadily risen in...

Business

Trashie partners with Steve Madden for recycling intiaitive

Footwear, clothing, and accessories brand Steve Madden has partnered with Trashie to launch a new recycling initiative for its customers. The new partnership sees Steve Madden leveraging the US-based company’s recycle and rewards platform to encourage customers to recycle their old and used apparel and footwear. Through the new recycling...

Business|Interview Featured

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...

Fashion Featured

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...

BusinessFeatured

Walmart partners with unspun, leveraging 3D weaving technology to reduce textile waste

Walmart has announced a new pilot project with textile innovator unspun to reduce the environmental impact of garment production. Through the project, Walmart will work with unspun to see how the company’s 3D weaving machines can be utilized to produce workwear-style pants under a Walmart house brand. A pioneering fashion tech company based in...

Fashion Featured

Saving clothes from landfill, two companies leading the way in war on waste

Two standout companies from Fashinnovation's 9th Worldwide Talks in September are determined to show us the value of what we already have. One works to ensure all discarded clothes are recycled, the other strives to make sure all unsold clothes get worn. The result is that neither old nor new clothing will end up in landfill, not on their watch....

Background|Long read

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...

Fashion Featured

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...

Fashion Featured

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...

Fashion Featured

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...

Fashion Featured

Stella McCartney & Ellen MacArthur team up to tackle textile waste

London - The fashion industry's current business model, which sees a huge amount of clothing produced only to be thrown away after a few wears, needs to be changed. A new system is needed to ensure clothes are better designed and last longer before being recycled to make new garments, stresses a new report from leading sustainable designer...