19/1/23. A life-cycle assessment has confirmed the significant carbon dioxide and water savings from reusing textiles, compared with producing new clothing, the European Recycling Industries Confederation's (EuRIC) textiles branch has said.
Its research showed the environmental impact of reusing textiles is 70 times lower, even accounting for global exports for reuse, including transport emissions.
EuRIC found 3kg of CO2 is saved for each high/medium-quality piece of clothing reused and only 0.01% of the water used to produce new clothing is required for reuse.
The findings confirmed the environmental benefits of reuse over recycling, said EuRIC, with the exception of low-quality clothing - typically polyester – for which recycling had environmental benefits as consumers were unlikely to purchase second-hand clothing.
Alan Wheeler, chief executive of the Textile Recycling Association, said: “This research demonstrates just how important it is to re-use clothes and extend the life of garments.
“The report also highlights that recycling textiles produces significant environmental benefits and that there is a clear need for Governmental and industry priorities to instil the waste hierarchy, with re-use and longevity firmly at the top (wherever that happens in the world) and recycling of worn out textile items the next priority,” he added.
The report can be found at:
EuRIC - Study | LCA-based assessment of the management of European used textiles (euric-aisbl.eu)