what people want from a greener clothing industry » Green Alliance

The reuse landscape is rapidly evolving, with a noticeable increase in interest from major corporations and a growing openness among the public to embrace second-hand goods, especially against the backdrop of the high cost of living. However, despite changing attitudes, the full potential of the reuse economy remains untapped.

In this report we investigate how reuse works for the fashion sector in Great Britain. Research by PwC for the Circular Economy Taskforce shows that reuse can already be profitable for fashion companies, especially if they create attractive platforms and develop technologies to save costs.

The findings underline public consensus that the government must take decisive action to curb overproduction in the fashion industry, with YouGov polling showing strong support for policies that prioritize quality over quantity. We conclude that the government should prioritize banning the destruction of unsold goods and establish an effective extended producer responsibility system for textiles. Such a system would not only improve data accuracy, but also set benchmarks for the quality, reduction and reuse of clothing, in addition to facilitating effective recycling practices.