Field 9 of 10 · Boundary: Novel entities, freshwater, climate
Fashion & Textiles
The problem
Clothes are produced and thrown away faster than they can be reused or recycled. Most of the water, land and emissions behind European clothing occur outside Europe.
Who may be affected
Garment workers in producing countries, communities that receive exported used clothing, and shoppers on tight budgets.
16 kg
of textile waste per person in the EU in 2020, only about a quarter collected separately
EEA
<1%
of the material used to make clothing is recycled into new clothing (2017 figure)
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Idea directions
- Repair, rental and resale services for clothing
- Textiles designed for recycling, with material passports
Sources are named under each number. Idea directions are prompts, not recommendations.