AMSTERDAM – A new initiative aimed at tackling textile waste in the fashion industry has been launched, promising to foster collaboration among global stakeholders and drive circular practices.
Led by IDH (the Sustainable Trade Initiative) with support from the Laudes Foundation, the project seeks to create the first-ever global database tracking textile waste and its composition. By aggregating data from various regions and industry sectors, the initiative aims to offer deep insight into the industry’s waste landscape.
“This initiative is the first of its kind, aiming to create a global database of textile waste availability,” said Pramit Chanda, global director of textiles & manufacturing at IDH. “It will serve as a vital tool for industry stakeholders, offering both a comprehensive view and detailed insights to inform business decisions. By consolidating data, the platform will unlock opportunities to optimise sourcing and enhance the recycling ecosystem, empowering recyclers, brands, and retailers to innovate, streamline operations, and drive efficiency in textile waste management for a more sustainable industry.”
The platform will provide information on economic and material composition, allowing companies to identify viable waste sources and assess opportunities for recycling and reusing materials.
Over time, its reach will expand, including more countries and incorporating varied types of textile waste to provide a fuller picture of global waste streams.
Anita Chester, head of fashion at the Laudes Foundation, said: “Access to deep data to accurately determine where and how to intervene will be the real unlock in solving the mounting issue of waste generated across fashion’s supply chain.
“Ultimately, we know that better-informed and more cohesive efforts between actors will lead to increased (financial and non-financial) support to scale innovations, industry proactively investing to transform their supply chains, and policy creating the enablers to support the transition to an inclusive and circular fashion industry.”
The platform aims to build connections between industry players, from recyclers to policy makers, in order to accelerate change.
The hoppe is that this collective effort can help leverage increased investment in sustainable practices, while also influencing policymakers to support the transition to a more circular and inclusive industry. Additionally, the database will incorporate relevant policy information, so that it aligns with regulatory standards and initiatives.
As the platform develops, IDH and the Laudes Foundation plan to collaborate with additional organisations to integrate insights from other regions and new categories of waste.
“This initiative marks a significant step towards building a more transparent, collaborative, and circular fashion industry,” Chanda added. “By uniting key players from across the ecosystem, we are not only addressing the pressing issue of textile waste but also unlocking its potential as a resource.”
