According to a new Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) commissioned by the European Textile Reuse And Recycling Industry (EuRIC) the environmental impact of reusing textiles is 70 times lower, even when accounting for global exports for reuse, including transport emissions.
The study found that a massive 3 kg of CO2 is saved for each high/medium-quality clothing that is reused. While only a mere 0.01 per cent of the water used to produce new clothing is required for reuse. These results come on the back of the EU launching its Strategy for Sustainable Textiles just a few months ago and requirements for Member States to start collecting textiles separately by 2025.
The study confirms that waste hierarchy assumptions on the environmental benefits of reuse over recycling are correct in the case of high/medium-quality clothing, but for low-quality clothing, typically composed entirely of polyester, recycling also has comparative environmental benefits when consumers are less likely to purchase second-hand clothing.
This study endorses the environmental benefits of a global market for textile reuse and recycling’s potential to tackle the rising amounts of low-quality and non-reusable clothing. Mariska Boer, President of EuRIC Textiles said, “Regrettably, around 62 per cent of used clothing and textiles end up in household waste, meaning valuable textiles are likely to be incinerated or landfilled. The European textile reuse and recycling industry envisages a circular textile value chain where every piece of clothing is reused in an optimal way and/or recycled.”
The study also includes recommendations to policymakers, calling for initiatives that accelerate investments in state-of-the-art textile recycling facilities globally. In particular, the study noted that innovation in fibre-to-fibre recycling will be key to keep textile fibres in the loop as volumes of non-reusable clothing are set to dramatically increase.
In addition, the study highlighted the importance of eco-design criteria that enhance the lifespan of clothing before there is a need for recycling, as well as rules that mandate detailed sorting of high/medium-quality and low-quality textiles.