McKinsey study: At least one-fifth of textile waste could be reused for new garments
A recent study by McKinsey ”Scaling textile recycling in Europe – turning waste into value”, shows that investments in textile recycling would reduce CO2 emissions by 4 million tons – while creating some 15,000 jobs in Europe by 2030.
On average, each person in Europe* produces more than 15 kilograms of textile waste each year. Less than 1 percent of this waste is currently recycled into new textile products. With the right measures, this figure could rise to 18–26 percent by 2030, and CO2 emissions could be reduced by 4 million tons.
A new textile recycling industry could create some 15,000 new jobs in Europe. For it to become a reality, investments in textile collection and increased use of new and existing recycling technology are required. For example, mechanical recycling of cotton, innovative processing into viscose fibers, and chemical recycling for the reuse of polyester.
At the same time, a number of challenges remain. Textile waste must be sorted using quality-oriented criteria, buttons and zippers removed, and fiber compositions clearly identified. Many products comprised of mixed fibers pose a problem for fiber-to-fiber recycling for which there is not yet a solution.
Investment needed for scaling
To leverage the full potential of textile recycling, by 2030, a total investment of EUR 6–7 billion is needed across the entire value chain – including collection, sorting, and the construction of recycling centers – with a possible annual return of 20 to 25 percent.
"In Denmark, 40,000 tonnes of household textiles are incinerated annually, and very few tonnes are recycled. Therefore, there is great potential from recycling textiles into new clothes both to make the industry more sustainable and circular, but also an opportunity to create value from the large amounts of textile waste that exist", explains Thomas Rüdiger Smith, Partner at McKinsey's office in Copenhagen.
*Europe refers to the 27 EU member states and Switzerland.
Dina Muscat Meng
External Communications Specialist
Mobile: +45 2059 3176
dina_meng@mckinsey.com
McKinsey & Co
McKinsey is a global management consulting firm committed to helping organizations accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth. We work with clients across the private, public, and social sectors to solve complex problems and create positive change for all their stakeholders. We combine bold strategies and transformative technologies to help organizations innovate more sustainably, achieve lasting gains in performance, and build workforces that will thrive for this generation and the next.
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