As the textile recycling industry pushes forward with innovation and sustainability initiatives, this week brought exciting news that reflects global efforts to reduce waste and promote a circular economy. Let’s dive into the top 5 stories from the textile recycling world this week.
1. California Passes the Groundbreaking Responsible Textile Recovery Act
In a significant legislative move, California has passed the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, becoming the first U.S. state to implement an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program specifically for textiles. Under this law, textile producers are now required to take responsibility for the end-of-life processes of their products, which includes managing the recycling, reuse, or repair of discarded textiles.
The act addresses the growing problem of textile waste, which is one of the fastest-growing waste categories in U.S. landfills. Key industry figures, including the American Apparel & Footwear Association and major brands like IKEA, have supported the bill, recognizing it as a vital step toward sustainability. The legislation is expected to drive investments in recycling infrastructure and encourage more eco-friendly practices from the design phase to the product’s end(Global Textile Source).
2. Goodwill’s Circularity Pilot Project Sees Success
Goodwill Industries International has shared promising results from its two-year textile circularity pilot, funded by a $1.28 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. The initiative focused on developing skills and infrastructure to sort and recycle unsellable textiles across Goodwill’s network, turning what would have been waste into reusable resources.
This initiative demonstrates how partnerships between corporate entities and nonprofits can lead to substantial environmental benefits. By improving how secondhand goods are processed, the project sets a strong example for how the fashion industry can become more sustainable through circular practices(
3. Global Focus on Textile Circularity at BIR’s Brussels Conference
This week, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) hosted its annual Circularity Challenge conference in Brussels, addressing key issues in textile recycling and promoting circular fashion. The event brought together stakeholders from across the textile supply chain, including recyclers, retailers, policymakers, and designers, to discuss the role recycling plays in reducing textile waste.
The conference emphasized the importance of fact-based narratives in combating misinformation around textile waste. The discussions also highlighted the need for international cooperation and policy development to improve recycling rates and support sustainable fashion practices(
4. New £2.5M Investment in Enzymatic Recycling for Textiles
A groundbreaking new investment has been made into enzymatic recycling in the UK. Evoralis, a Cambridge-based spin-out company, has secured £2.5M in funding to develop enzymes capable of breaking down complex plastics and textiles. This innovative technology aims to revolutionize textile recycling by enabling the separation and recycling of materials like nylon and polyurethane, which are notoriously difficult to recycle.
This advancement is particularly crucial as global fiber production continues to rise, contributing to massive waste. Evoralis’ work could help the textile industry shift towards a more circular economy(
Premier Construction News)(WTIN).
5. Crisis Charity Trials New In-Store Recycling Scheme
In London, the homelessness charity Crisis is piloting an in-store textile recycling scheme in partnership with the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT). The trial, taking place at its Peckham and Elephant & Castle stores, encourages customers to pre-sort donations into wearable and non-wearable items to reduce textile waste.
The project not only supports textile recycling but also contributes to Crisis’ mission of ending homelessness. With over 1.6 billion items of unworn clothing in UK homes, this initiative is a timely step towards closing the loop on fabric waste(Circular Online).
