Why it matters

EU fashion industry generates 3.8 MILLION tonnes of pre-consumer textile waste per year

• 50% go to landfills
• 28% is incinerated

Landfilling and incinerating textiles harm the environment by:

• Releasing greenhouse gasses, toxic pollutants, and microplastics
• Leaching toxic chemicals into soil and water
• Wasting valuable rescources

Source: Ellen McArthur Foundation, McKinsey (2020), Fashion For Good, EEA

Why Fashion Industry Struggles With Circular Economy Adoption

• Linear supply chains: Fashion brands follow a linear model – make, sell and discard
• High upfront costs: Investing in recycling infrastructure and repair programs is expensive
• Lack of Partnerships: Many brands lack systems or partners to manage excess inventory