Written by Pakistan is a dumping ground for post-consumer textile waste. According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, In 2021, the European Union exported $46 million of used clothing to the country. But Pakistan has huge potential to recycle these used textiles. Textile waste management firm Reverse Resources and Pakistan’s National Textile University have joined forces on an initiative to transform the country’s textile-to-textile recycling landscape.
The collaborative effort wants to establish a structured framework for the supply and demand of textile waste to ensure transparency and enable traceability, though challenges persist.
As an example, deficiencies within the informal waste handling sector, which serves as a vital intermediary connecting textile waste suppliers to recycling facilities, represent a substantial challenge to ensuring supply chain compliance.
In a statement, the organizations highlighted that despite the expansion of Pakistan’s textile recycling industry, considerable untapped market opportunities persist. They emphasized the potential for unlocking economic and environmental benefits through the expansion of recycling initiatives.
Moreover, despite the existence of demand for feedstock, premium textile waste often finds its way into low-value applications, leaving brands with limited insight into the ultimate destination of their discarded textiles.
To address this issue, Reverse Resources is rolling out a customized waste mapping program tailored for brands, aimed at enhancing visibility. This initiative will provide visual data to ignite the establishment of a circular supply chain, facilitating the identification of textile waste volume, geographical distribution, composition, and recycling potential.
Reverse Resources, in collaboration with the National Textile University, has forged partnerships with several influential industry players, including Reformation, Primark, and C&A, alongside textile manufacturers such as Artistic Milliners and Interloop. Support for the project is also extended by organizations like the Global Fashion Agenda’s Circular Fashion Partnership and Fashion For Good.
Faryal Sadiq, Chief Marketing Officer at Interloop, emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging waste as a valuable resource to minimize environmental impact. She stated, “By collaborating with allies and industry experts like Reverse Resources, we aim to establish waste traceability, map waste handlers, and track each recycling phase, contributing to a more resilient future.”
This collaborative endeavor is made possible through funding from the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) program, established and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Omer Ahmed, Managing Director at Artistic Milliners, expressed enthusiasm for joining forces with Reverse Resources on the SMEP project, highlighting the alignment between their focus on increasing circularity in the textile and fashion industry and their vertically integrated operations. He underscored the importance of connecting with brands utilizing recycled materials and commended Reverse Resources’ platform for addressing market disconnect and facilitating engagement with stakeholders.