Textile Recycling Supply Chains

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is complex

Fashion Takes Action, a Canadian sustainable fashion nonprofit, has released a guidance document on creating a textile recycling supply chain. With nearly 500,000 tonnes of post-consumer textiles ending up in Canadian landfills annually, the document aims to address the challenges and opportunities in textile recycling.

In 2021, Fashion Takes Action led a Mechanical Textile Recycling Pilot Project, showcasing the possibility of mechanically recycling discarded textiles in Canada. The resulting product, a laundry hamper made from post-consumer polyester garments and recycled PET, demonstrated higher economic value than traditional downcycling.

The recently launched guide to a comprehensive textile recycling supply chain outlines the process, key takeaways, and recommendations for scaling textile recycling in Canada. The initiative has led to the creation of the Canadian Circular Textile Consortium, fostering collaboration across the textile value chain for a circular and regenerative system in Canada.