Textile Waste news and archive

Will COP30 deliver for cotton? The fibre at the frontline of fashion’s climate crisis

COP30 began this week amid controversy, as a new four-lane highway carved through tens of thousands of acres of protected Amazon rainforest to host the conference, a jarring backdrop for an event dedicated to climate action. Against this uneasy start, cotton finds itself at the sharp edge of the fashion industry’s own climate reckoning. A decade...

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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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EU clamps down on food waste, fast fashion

EU lawmakers gave a final green light Tuesday to a law on curbing the environmental impact of so-called fast fashion and also slashing back the mountains of food wasted in Europe each year. Brussels estimates the 27-nation bloc generates around 15 kilos of textile waste and 130 kilogrammes of food waste per person each year. By curbing food...

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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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Montane takes measured step in outdoor apparel's green transition

The fashion industry is increasingly scrutinised for its environmental toll, with sustainability now a financial imperative rather than a mere ethical one. Against this backdrop, British outdoor specialist Montane has released its annual 2025 Social Report, positioning itself as a proactive player in the sector's green evolution. The report...

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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

EU textile overhaul gains momentum with Circula-TEX launch

The European textile industry, long burdened by fragmented regulation, inefficient waste management, and an uneasy relationship with sustainability, is being pulled into a new chapter. The catalyst? Circula-TEX, an EU-funded innovation programme that seeks to stitch together the continent’s disjointed approach to textile waste. Coordinated by...

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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...

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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...