Textile Waste Management: Strategies for a Circular Economy
Fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to waste production. According to a study, as of 2023, the fashion industry produced around 97 million tons of waste every year. This includes leftover textile, chemicals, and packaging materials. The environmental impact of this waste is quite substantial and cannot be ignored. This is where circular economy comes into the picture as a knight in shining armor. In such an economy, nothing ever becomes waste and everything is kept in circulation through recycling, reuse, refurbishment, and composting.
In this blog, we will explore textile waste management strategies and how we can move towards a circular economy effectively.
Strategies For Textile Waste Management And Circular Economy
Now, let us take a look at some of the innovative strategies for textile waste management to reduce waste:
1. Designing For Longevity
One of the most effective strategies begins at the design phase. If designers can create a design that would avoid textile waste, a bigger portion of the problem can be solved. But how? Designers may help reduce waste by making items that are long-lasting, timeless, and recyclable. Basically, this means selecting materials that are both environmentally friendly and recyclable.
Some of the brands are leading the charge here by using recycled materials in production. What if we told you your sneakers are made from fruit? Sounds unbelievable, right? Well, it has been made possible by MoEa. The brand bases its sneakers on recyclable materials like apples, grapes, cactus, and pineapple. Not only are they reducing food waste but also ensure you can recycle your sneakers bought from them.
2. Take-Back Programs
These days, many brands are launching take-back programs where you can return old clothes to the retailer. These retailers ensure that the products are recycled and repurposed to avoid dumping of textile waste into landfills. Such programs ensure that even customers become responsible and reduce wastage.
To give you an example, brands like Girlfriend Collective have their take-back programs. Once you are done, you can return old bras, shorts, and leggings to the brand and they will recycle it into something new! What’s in it for you? You will get a $15 store credit from them for the same. Isn’t it a win-win situation for all?
3. Upcycling Clothes
Upcycling is another novel technique that helps give waste materials a new look. Upcycling is different from recycling as in this process, the material is maintained or even enhanced in quality as compared to the latter where the material is usually degraded. This can involve turning jeans into handbags or transforming leftover fabric scraps into patchwork wear.
Doodlage in India is one of the brands that is known for upcycling garments. The brand is known for cutting fabric scraps and turning them into long-lasting clothes and furnishing items.
4. Consumer Education
The attitude of the consumer towards waste management is very crucial to the success of any waste management strategy. Consumers must be made aware of the effects of their consumption or the problems associated with textiles. They should know how they can avoid contributing to the excess which leads to the massive production and disposal of textiles.
For instance, people should be encouraged to purchase fewer clothes, prefer quality over quantity, and discard textiles appropriately. Brands can take the initiative of relabeling products so that consumers can choose environmentally-friendly products.
5. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
This idea of EPR is making manufacturers bear the costs of a product’s entire life cycle, including post-consumer waste. Such policies motivate brands to take the initiative to make their products more environmentally friendly and promote recycling and reuse.
In countries like the Netherlands, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has introduced EPR. All textile manufacturers will be responsible for recycling and reusing textiles. They will even be responsible for collection systems and financing the whole process.
6. Using Digital Technologies For Waste Management
AI and big data are some of the digital technologies that can greatly help in waste management. If you are wondering how we have the answer for you right here! By reducing the number of errors in production and anticipating customer demands, AI can reduce wastage in a production line.
Social media also enables the selling, hiring, or exchanging of clothes with other people. This gives clothes a second life besides reducing the number of clothes under production. Some of the apps include Flyp, Closest Closet, Lucky Sweater, and Grailed. You can check out if these apps are operating in your country and take advantage of them.
Conclusion
Managing textile waste is complex, but with the strategies discussed above, it is possible to do the same. All the textile industry has to do is move towards a circular economy where waste is minimized and efficiency is maximized. This way, the dream to achieve an environmentally-friendly fashion industry wouldn’t be too far.