Australian Clothing Consumption and Waste: A Growing Challenge

Australians are purchasing an increasing volume of new and secondhand clothing items. In the past year, approximately 1.5 billion new garments were bought nationally, averaging 55 items per person, according to a report by Seamless, Australia’s clothing stewardship scheme.

Nationally, a significant portion of unwanted clothing ends up in landfill. 53% of unwanted clothing is sent to landfill, with 38% being reused locally or exported, and 9% recycled. While reuse and secondhand sales are indeed increasing, these efforts are currently insufficient to counteract the alarming 229,000 tonnes of textiles sent to landfill annually.

Ainsley Simpson, CEO of Seamless, stated that normalized overconsumption contributes to an estimated 14.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions and consumes the equivalent of 1.8 billion tonnes of water.

Innovative Solutions: Kowtow's Biochar Initiative

Kowtow, a New Zealand fashion label, has implemented a pioneering strategy to eliminate plastic and petrochemicals from its garments, covering fabrics, zips, buttons, and polycotton thread. The brand's focus is on recyclable or natural alternatives, and it actively offers repair and resale services to extend garment life.

In a revolutionary move, Kowtow is now converting its textile waste into biochar, a process that transforms organic waste into charcoal used to enrich soils. This initiative relies on garments being organic and plastic-free; any non-organic trims are meticulously removed and reused in their repair program. The scheme has so far successfully converted one tonne of textile waste into a usable resource.

Founder Gosia Piatek noted the revolutionary aspect of being able to "eat our clothes" by mixing the biochar with soil for growing produce.

Managing Unwanted Clothing

Many individuals face uncertainty regarding the best ways to manage their unwanted clothing. Seamless statistics reveal a staggering amount of clothing stored in homes across Australia: around 5.27 billion items are stored in wardrobes nationally, equivalent to 193 items per person. An RMIT survey further highlighted that most Australians own clothes unworn for a year, and a third have not worn half their wardrobe.

Simpson recommends practical steps such as re-wearing, repairing, and sharing clothing where feasible. This also includes donating good-quality items to established charity and resale networks to prolong garment life and reduce the demand for new clothes. Matt McMahon of Salvos Stores offers a simple guideline: items good enough for a friend are likely suitable for donation.

Textile Recycling Landscape

Textiles currently have one of the lowest recycling rates among waste materials, standing at just 5%. This figure is primarily driven by carpet recycling, according to federal government data. Australians produce an estimated 33kg of textile waste per person, with clothing forming the largest portion of this waste.

Tailored recycling schemes remain limited across the country. However, collaborative collection drives in South Australia have shown promising results, recovering almost 20 tonnes of unwanted textiles, footwear, and linens for resale and recycling during a single event. Seamless also funds pilot programs, including postal return satchels, workplace collections, and local textile recycling hubs. Some organizations are beginning to provide home collection services to further assist consumers.

Calls for Systemic Change

Sustainable fashion consultant Julie Boulton advocates for a crucial shift away from perceiving clothes as disposable. She strongly emphasizes the need for systemic changes within the industry, such as holding producers accountable for the materials used and actively preventing the manufacture of environmentally damaging garments.

Boulton suggests that consumers also play a vital role by being more mindful in their purchasing decisions, prioritizing needs over wants, and engaging in repair and reuse practices. She specifically advises against impulse buying as a key step towards more sustainable consumption.