LCA-Based assessment of the management of European used Textiles
LCA-Based assessment of the management of European used Textiles
The quantities of used textiles collected in Europe are increasing, while the proportion of high-quality reusable garments is decreasing. Currently, around 50-75 % of the collected textiles is reused, whereas 10-30 % is recycled.
Towards 2030, however, it is expected that a smaller portion will be suitable for reuse, and that more will be fit for recycling. This is because the requirement of separately collected textiles is expected to divert textiles from mixed waste, which is not fit for reuse, as well as of a general trend of falling quality. The lifecycle impact assessment (LCA) of reuse compared to a new product confirms that the environmental impact of reuse is significantly lower than the production of a new garment.