Accelerating progress

The collection and recycling of post-industrial textile waste offers a great many opportunities. For example, it can have a positive impact on economic development, job creation and the environment. Driven by more than 520 regulations worldwide, the industry is moving towards a circular economy. In addition, technological advances in mechanical, thermo-mechanical and chemical recycling are becoming increasingly evident. However, despite these efforts, the industry is making slow progress. Less than one per cent of textile waste is still recycled into new fibres. The industry's recycling rate has fallen from 9.1 per cent in 2018 to 7.2 per cent in 2023. As textile consumption and the volume of waste continue to grow, the need for scalable solutions is more urgent than ever. The report "Upstream Circularity Playbook" published by Global Fashion Agenda aims to serve as a pragmatic guide and showcase examples of good practice for adopting and scaling circular practices.