
A reuse economy offers an opportunity to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges associated with the textile industry while promoting sustainability, circularity, and community resilience.
BROWSE resources
Textile products are the fourth largest source of environmental pressure after food, housing, and transport.
The textile supply chain is responsible for 15% of primary raw material consumption in EU households — and the rise of fast fashion has led to overconsumption and increased volumes of low-quality textiles unsuitable for reuse or recycling.

Reusing textiles is the most sustainable approach to closing the textile loop. Textiles can be repaired, resold, and upcycled through collection and sorting.
A reuse economy focuses on extending the lifespan of textiles through repair and refurbishment.
Social enterprises for textiles play a crucial role in providing essential skills training and employment.
Local second-hand clothing markets keep textiles in use for longer, and deliver social benefits through local employment, training, and community-based reuse initiatives.
By keeping clothing in circulation for longer we can reduce the need to produce new textiles.
The rise of fast fashion has led to overconsumption and increased volumes of low-quality textiles unsuitable for reuse or recycling. There is a lack of pre-consumer textile sytems and a lot of downcycling. To address this, a reuse economy focuses on extending the lifespan of textiles through repair, refurbishment, and resale, diverting them from landfills and incinerators.
Resource efficiency and circularity are crucial for a sustainable textile supply chain, mitigating environmental and social impacts like labor exploitation and unethical production practices. Textile reuse systems create employment opportunities, support local communities, and foster social cohesion.
PER EU CITIZEN / YEAR
Clothing makes up 81% of textile consumption. Globally, 73% of textiles end up in landfill or incineration, and the textile supply chain is responsible for 15 % of primary raw material consumption in EU households
Reusing textiles locally is the most sustainable approach to closing the textile loop while creating local jobs. Social enterprises in the textile reuse sector focus on implementing the textile waste hierarchy and respecting the proximity principle, extending the lifespan of textile products and fostering local skills development each — generates between 20 and 35 jobs per 1,000 tonnes of textiles collected for reuse.
NETWORK · RREUSE
RREUSE, a European network representing social enterprises in the circular economy, advocates for a strong circular economy for textiles, driven by social purposes, emphasizing the role of social enterprises in the value chain.However, increasing amounts of low-quality textiles challenge the current model of textile management, funded mainly through the sale of second-hand clothes. The updated EU waste law requires a separate collection of textiles by 2025, presenting opportunities for value recapture, but addressing issues like garment quality and overproduction and consumption levels is crucial to avoid exacerbating economic challenges and disrupting existing business models.

COALITION · WADRDROBE CHANGE
Wardrobe Change is a coalition of civil society organisations calling for EU action to address the textile industry's environmental impact. Their demands include:






