It ain't fashion, if it ain't sustainable

Julia Ettinger

State of Recycling / Europe Report

17 January 2025

4 minutes

The economics of the sector dictates that international shipment of second-hand clothing, textile recycling and waste will remain an important part of scaling up the circular textile economy.

Report Stresses on Modern Approaches to Managing International Shipments of Recycled Textiles and Second-Hand Clothing

To unlock the potential of recycled textiles and second-hand clothing, a new research proposes practical reforms to modernise outdated customs codes, introducing new codes, and create clear standards, and trader incentives that will enhance trust, trade efficiency, and transparency to better support the expanding textile circular economy.

Special Correspondent

State of Recycling / Europe Crisis

2 December 2024

6 minutes

Sorting for recycling is one option, though it’s not a profitable one right now. Textile sorters aren’t making money on non-reusable textiles, and the demand in Europe isn’t high enough to absorb all that surplus.

Second-Hand Clothes Should Be Considered Waste Only after They Have Served Their Second Life

In October, a statement from the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC) warning that the textile reuse and recycling sector in Europe was on the verge of collapse, had sent alarm bells ringing. EuRIC Secretary-General Julia Ettinger tells texfash why the situation is so grim.