Building sustainable solutions for used textiles trade

While clothing production has approximately doubled in the last 15 years, the number of times a garment is worn before being discarded has decreased by 36%. Used clothes are traded across the globe, some with the intention to be resold, repurposed or recycled, but little is known about their destinations, uses and impacts. Circular textile business models could help solve the environmental and human health impacts of discarded textiles and could contribute up to US$700 billion to the economy.

This workshop explores the dynamics and impacts of increasing global trade of used textiles, and identifies pathways, collaborative approaches and enabling policy conditions to make that trade more circular. The workshop will also share examples of initiatives which advanced the sustainability of used textiles.

Organisers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Circle Economy Foundation

Target audience (max. 50 participants*): companies, including smallholders and multinationals; governments; trade associations; policymakers; civil society; and research and financial institutions with circular agendas.

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