Australian Clothing Consumption and Waste

Australians are purchasing a rising number 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, 53% of unwanted clothing ends up in landfill, with 38% being reused locally or exported, and 9% recycled.

While reuse and secondhand sales are increasing, they are not sufficient to counteract the 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 strategy to eliminate plastic and petrochemicals from its garments, including fabrics, zips, buttons, and polycotton thread. The brand focuses on recyclable or natural alternatives and offers repair and resale services to extend garment life.

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 removed and reused in the repair program. The scheme has so far 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 are uncertain about how to manage unwanted clothing. Seamless statistics indicate that around 5.27 billion items are stored in wardrobes across Australia, equivalent to 193 items per person.

An RMIT survey found that most Australians own clothes unworn for a year, and a third have not worn half their wardrobe.

Simpson recommends re-wearing, repairing, and sharing clothing where feasible. This includes donating good-quality items to established charity and resale networks to prolong garment life and reduce demand for new clothes. Matt McMahon of Salvos Stores advises that items good enough for a friend are likely suitable for donation.

Textile Recycling Landscape

Textiles have one of the lowest recycling rates among waste materials, at 5%, primarily from carpet recycling, according to federal government data. Australians produce an estimated 33kg of textile waste per person, with clothing forming the largest portion.

Tailored recycling schemes remain limited. In South Australia, collaborative collection drives recovered 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 provide home collection services.

Calls for Systemic Change

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

Boulton suggests that consumers should be more mindful in their purchasing decisions, prioritizing needs over wants, and engaging in repair and reuse practices. She advises against impulse buying.