The Fashion Industry’s Environmental Impact
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting sectors on Earth, producing up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every second, the equivalent of a truckload of clothing is either incinerated or discarded in landfills.
Mexico’s Textile Waste Challenge
In Mexico, the situation mirrors this global issue. The City of Mexico generates 364 tons of textile waste daily.
Initiatives Towards Circular Economy in Fashion
Large Brands’ Recycling Programs
H&M Mexico promotes the Garment Collecting program across all its stores, accepting clothing from any brand for reuse or recycling.
C&A Mexico, in partnership with Recolecto MX, runs the ReutiliC&A project, channeling used clothing to donation or industrial textile recycling.
Inditex/Zara Mexico has collection containers in stores that gather used clothing—even from other brands—for donation or textile recycling.
Mexican Startups Driving Circular Innovation
Recolecto MX has diverted over one million kilograms of clothing from landfills through collection and channeling for donation or recycling.
Nucycles transforms industrial textile waste into new garments, reducing water and energy consumption in production.
Texinova operates as an industrial recycling center, recovering fibers for reuse in various applications.
5 Key Actions by UN to Reduce Fashion Waste
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights five crucial actions to tackle the fashion waste crisis:
- Build a more circular industry: reduce production volume and design durable, recyclable garments using sustainable materials.
- Improve textile recycling: only 1% of fibers currently come from recycled materials. Infrastructure for textile collection and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) models are needed.
- Eliminate hazardous chemicals from clothing: the industry uses over 15,000 substances, many toxic and persistent. Regulating their use and opting for green chemistry is essential to protect the environment and facilitate recycling.
- Shift the narrative from “new is better”: between 2000 and 2015, clothing production doubled, but the frequency of garment use dropped by 36%. UNEP calls on the industry to promote messages valuing prolonged use.
- Buy less, buy better: prefer quality items, repair, reuse, rent, or exchange. If purchasing something new is necessary, choose sustainable, long-lasting brands.
Remaining Challenges: Scalability, Culture, and Regulation
Despite progress, there are still missing regulatory incentives, appropriate recycling infrastructure, and clear consumer information.
In April of this year, a proposal to amend the General Law for the Prevention and Integrated Management of Waste (LGPGIR) was presented to the Chamber of Deputies. The aim:
- Classify textile waste as a special handling category.
- Oblige manufacturers, distributors, and importers to develop comprehensive management plans.
Though the initiative is still in committee, it paves the way for a national framework regulating clothing as a specific waste requiring particular treatment.
Lastly, on June 17, the Environmental Commission of the Capital’s Congress approved a modification to the Solid Waste Law, focusing on fast fashion. This reform proposes:
- Implement collection, treatment, recycling, and reuse programs for clothing by SEDEMA.
- Launch public awareness campaigns on responsible consumption.
- Incorporate the responsibility of large generators and brands throughout a garment’s lifecycle.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the circular economy in fashion? It’s a system that aims to reuse, recycle, and upcycle materials while minimizing waste. In fashion, it involves designing durable garments using sustainable materials and implementing recycling programs.
- Why is textile waste a problem in Mexico? The City of Mexico generates 364 tons of textile waste daily, mirroring a global issue where the fashion industry produces significant pollution.
- How are Mexican companies contributing to circular fashion? Large brands like H&M, C&A, and Zara have recycling programs. Startups such as Recolecto MX, Nucycles, and Texinova innovate local textile recycling.
- What are the five key actions by UNEP to reduce fashion waste? Build a circular industry, improve textile recycling, eliminate hazardous chemicals, shift consumption narratives, and buy less but better.
- What challenges remain in implementing circular fashion? There’s a need for regulatory incentives, recycling infrastructure, and clear consumer information.