Each year in the UK, an estimated 350,000 tonnes of used clothing ends up in landfill, representing around £140 million worth of lost resource value.

• Environmental impact: For every tonne of textile reused, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by approximately 7 tonnes. 

• Resource savings: Extending the average life of clothing by just nine months could reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints by 20–30%, saving around £5 billion in the resources used to supply, launder, and dispose of them. 

Although textile reuse and recycling initiatives are growing, volumes heading to landfill remain stubbornly high. Challenges include:

• The fast fashion cycle and overconsumption overwhelming reuse systems

• Mixed-fibre garments that are hard to recycle

• Gaps in collection infrastructure and public awareness

Despite this, UK charity networks and textile recyclers continue to expand effective collection systems.

Textile reuse (e.g., wearable second-hand clothing) delivers the highest environmental benefit. Recycling technologies—both mechanical and chemical—offer additional value but face scale and quality challenges. 

Driving longer use cycles, repairing, and upcycling are low-cost actions with substantial impact. Key areas to focus:

• Design for durability and repairability

• Invest in collection points and second-hand markets

• Advance recycling technology (closed-loop systems)

• Include textiles in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes

• Hear from the Experts at The Recycling Expo

  Strong views on textile waste? You’re not alone.

  Visit and hear from:
  The Textile Recycling Association, Project Re:claim (Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd), Upcycled Medical, Vida Promotions Ltd, Velorim Group Ltd. — plus hundreds of other exhibitors working on textile recovery, reuse, and innovation.

  7–8 October 2025 | ExCeL London
  Register free: www.recyclingexpo.co.uk