Textile Waste news and archive

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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Business

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...

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...

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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...