Proposed Basel Convention changes threaten textile circular economy efforts.
In January 2024, we became members of the circular economy platform Circular Slovakia.
The idea of bringing partners together to support the circular economy in Slovakia was born in 2018.
As a result of several stakeholder meetings from the public, private and non-governmental sectors, a consensus was reached on the establishment of a national initiative covering the circular economy. This effort, under the umbrella of a public-private partnership, resulted in the establishment of the Circular Economy Platform.
Further information can be found at www.circular-slovakia.sk.
A new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) published by the European Textile Reuse and Recycling Industry has confirmed significant CO2 and water savings from reusing textiles compared to making new clothes. The environmental impact of textile reuse is 70 times lower, even when accounting for global reuse exports, including transport emissions.
More specifically, the study revealed that a massive 3kg of CO2 is saved for every high/medium quality garment that is reused. While only 0.01% of water is needed for reuse compared to the amount of water used to make new clothes.
These results come against the backdrop of the EU just a few months ago launching its strategy for sustainable textiles and requirements for member states to start collecting textiles separately by 2025.