TEXAS – Textile Exchange has published a guide which aims to draw attention to the growing amount of textile waste generated each year in North America and the UK.
The FastFacts guide on Textile and Product Waste provides those in the industry with an overview of the key facts and statistics about waste, recycling and consumption. The figures suggest that more than 12 million tons of textile waste are generated in North America and one million tons in the UK alone every year. In addition, the guide claims that 10-20% of all textiles in the fashion industry are estimated to be wasted while 15% of fabric intended for clothing ends up on the cutting room floor.
There is also a ‘who’s who’ guide to waste and recycling and a look at look at what brands are doing to combat the problem.
Examples used include Klattermusen, of Sweden, which has launched the program rECOver that allows its used products to be returned to retailers, for cash; Mammut, which is providing collection boxes in its stores in Switzerland and partnering with a collector who is sorting the products and reusing or recycling them as much as they can; and M&S and Oxfam who have been developing a cloth exchange program which, since 2008, has collect over 2,500 tonnes of clothing which are put to reuse or recycled.
“If, as architect and product designer, William McDonough, says, ‘Waste equals food’, then we’re missing a huge opportunity to create new products from this food,” Textile Exchange says. “With the advent of Eco-Indices, the focus on end-of-life issues and solutions is growing steadily. In living with our vision of restoring the environment and enhancing lives, we invite you to download a FastFacts guide on Textile and Product Waste.”
CLICK HERE to download the guide