November 29, 2024 Circularity vs. Virgin Materials Consumption? Find out which way the textile industry is trending
The latest report by the Circle Economy Foundation, Circularity Gap Report: Textiles, reveals that the global textile industry operates at a mere 0.3% circularity, and points to solutions to reduce environmental harm and improve social equity.
The global textile industry consumes over 3 billion tonnes of materials annually, with 99% sourced from virgin materials. The report finds that this linear “take-make-waste” model drives severe environmental consequences, including water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Fast fashion, responsible for up to 24 collections per brand per year, exacerbates waste and resource use, with 30% of garments produced going unsold.
“Despite increasing efforts to embrace circularity, progress remains slow,” the report states. It highlights the industry’s reliance on oil-based synthetic fibers, which make up 70% of raw material usage, and notes that garment durability has decreased, further entrenching an unsustainable consumption model.
Pathways to a circular textile industry
The report outlines six strategies to improve circularity: Shifting to sustainable fibers, increasing garment durability, advancing recycling, embracing slow fashion, promoting circular manufacturing, and localizing supply chains. Combined, these approaches could triple circularity to 0.9%, admittedly still a low number, and cut environmental impacts by 50%.
“The textile industry is particularly resource-intensive, relying on the extraction of natural fibers from crops and synthetic fibers from fossil fuels,” the report emphasizes. This dependency further contributes to its disproportionate environmental harms like freshwater eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions.
Social equity is also critical. The report notes that 89% of the industry’s 140 million workers are employed in manufacturing, with 61 million in informal, often hazardous, roles. “Circular solutions must prioritize decent work,” the report authors assert, emphasizing fair wages and improved working conditions, particularly for women and vulnerable populations.
Systemic change requires coordinated action. Governments and businesses must adopt policies and incentives that promote circularity and reduce overproduction. “Significantly reducing textile production is essential to alleviating pressure on resources and mitigating environmental impacts,” the report’s authors conclude.
About Circle Economy Foundation
The Circle Economy Foundation is a global non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the transition to a circular economy. Based in the Netherlands, the foundation collaborates with businesses, governments, and communities to design innovative, scalable solutions that prioritize resource efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable development. Through research, advocacy, and tools like the Circularity Gap Report, Circle Economy promotes systems change to ensure a thriving economy within planetary boundaries.
