Fashion Giants Lead Spain's Textile Waste Revolution

Spain's leading fashion firms, including Zara owner Inditex and H&M, will commence a pilot textile waste collection scheme from April, ahead of EU regulations expected by 2026. The initiative, named Re-viste, aims to separate textiles for recycling through dedicated collection containers, boosting sustainability in the fashion industry.

Spain's largest fashion companies are set to launch a pioneering program to manage textile waste, with the initiative kicking off in April, a full two years ahead of anticipated EU regulations. The goal is clear: reduce landfill waste by boosting textile recycling rates.

Prominent brands like Zara owner Inditex, H&M, Decathlon, Ikea, and Primark are leading the charge. These companies are part of a groundbreaking trial, Re-viste, designed to separate textiles and shoes from general waste. The move preempts soon-to-be-implemented EU rules mandating such practices.

Under the scheme, fashion firms will fund waste management, a cost dependent on their sales volume. Currently, Spain collects only 12% of used clothes separately, with a shocking 88% ending up in landfills. The pilot aspires to change this, setting up collection points in various public spaces.