The Western Australian Circular Fashion Consortium (WACFC) has come out with a report that identifies the need for immediate and systemic action to support adoption and capacity building for circular practice within the local fashion industry.
- A response to the immediate need to reduce the high volume of clothing-based textile waste currently going to landfill, the State of Fashion Textile Circularity in WA report, prepared by the WACFC, contextualises Western Australia within the national product stewardship agenda, and advance circular economy based action within the local clothing industry.
- The authors of the report were Dr Anne Farren, Curtin University, WACFC Convenor; Lisa Piller, South Metropolitan TAFE; Shannon Itzstein, Fibre Economy; and Molly Ryan, Fibre Economy.
THE REPORT: The insights and recommendations build upon preliminary research conducted by the WACFC and notes that further research and data collection would be a key next step.
- The document also provides a local response to the Australian Fashion Council Seamless Clothing Stewardship Scheme, Federal Ministers Waste Priorities List 2022-23 and the WA Waste Authority Resource Recovery Strategy (WARR) 2030.
- It highlights the fragmented nature of the local supply chain and manufacturing sector, the significance of a high proportion of micro businesses and SMEs, and the impact of large geographical distances and isolation. These are key factors affecting the implementation of circular economy strategies that could secure a reduction in clothing textiles waste.
- Also featured in the document is a profile of uniform waste with particular focus on the mining industry and the potential that this represents for waste reduction through prevention and recovery strategies.
- It highlights the significant role played by charitable organisations in the processing of clothing textile waste in WA, and the lack of infrastructure currently in place to support circular practices.
THE BACKDROP: Australia's fashion industry contributed more than $27 billion to the 2020-2021 national economy and 88% of the local apparel manufacturing sector comprises small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
- The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme (NCPSS) Data & Material Flows Report indicates that each year, Australians purchase 15kg of new clothing, and discard a similar amount.
- Australians consume twice the global average of textiles and are the second largest consumer of textiles per capita worldwide.
- It is estimated 227,000 tonnes of clothing goes into landfill annually and landfill is Australia’s main waste management strategy for textiles.
- Eight million units of unwanted clothing go to Australian charitable organisations each year, who struggle with the challenges and costs of disposing of poor-quality clothing unfit for.
- Only 27% of donated clothing is resold in Australia; the remainder is downcycled as rags, exported offshore or sent to.
- While other focus materials in the WARR Strategy 2030 are trending downwards, textiles are climbing upwards significantly in export trends of waste products.
