Textile waste is a national and global crisis, with an estimated 120 million tonnes generated annually, of which 80 per cent ends up in landfill or incinerators, says Redress. Even though we're now in 2026 and the problem has been known about for decades, the global textile industry is only 0.3 per cent circular.
But it's hoped that as more fashion designers and producers accept the problems caused by excess fashion production, so waste can be minimised. But for this to happen, fashion needs to become part of the circular economy.