The research, undertaken from 2023 to inform the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Product Stewardship plan for Textiles, drew together quantitative analysis and qualitative insights to map a route towards a more circular textile system.
Both the Circular Economy And Waste Route Map to 2030 and the draft Circular Economy Strategy identify textiles as a priority sector, committing to a dedicated Product Stewardship Plan and sector-specific circularity roadmaps.
According to ZWS, textiles account for 19.4% of associated climate impacts in Scotland, despite making up just 3.5% of household waste by weight.
Appetite for sustainable textiles growing
The research engaged with industry representatives, community initiatives, local authorities, collectors, recyclers and policy specialists.
Stakeholders highlighted a rising appetite for sustainability, reuse and durability among customers and businesses.
However, fragmented infrastructure, particularly around collection and processing, and uneven awareness and access to reuse and repair have limited the growth of circular flows.
The report noted that community-led models such as repair cafes, swaps, textiles libraries and local fibre initiatives were cited as powerful levers for long-term behavioural and cultural change.
Many participants suggested that these grassroots approaches could deliver deeper and more durable impact than purely top-down or infrastructure-focused interventions.
Policy recommendations
Stakeholders “widely identified, and supported, EPR as a key intervention” to increase the circularity of textiles, particularly one designed to include reuse, repair and recycling, to create sector-wide incentives, level the playing field between responsible and irresponsible actors and drive the investment necessary to expand infrastructure.
Many also noted that a well-designed EPR system could integrate a range of complementary policy mechanisms, avoiding fragmentation and giving businesses the clarity they need to plan long-term.
Research from WEFT has also showed that UK consumers are supportive of EPR charges on clothing, particularly if the charge is transparent.
A number of other policy measures were also recommended, including:
- Procurement reform to embed sustainability scoring into public procurement
- Restrictions on disposal of unsold goods
- Support for circular business models including reuse, rental, repair and fibre-to-fibre recycling
- Addressing workforce shortages in areas such as repair skills
- Investment in collection infrastructure and recycling technologies
Potential interventions that were reviewed but ultimately not recommended for a textiles-specific policy package included minimum product pricing, product taxes or subsidies and non-domestic rates relief.
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