Towards A Nordic Textile Strategy

This report is the primary outcome from Part I of the project “Towards a Nordic textile strategy - Collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of textiles” initiated by the Nordic Waste Group (NAG). The report for Part 2 will be published in December 2014. This report summarizes the work carried out in 2013. The three subreports will be the basis for the work to be performed in 2014. The reports for 2013 are: • International market survey of textile flows in the Nordic region and the market for collection, sorting, preparing for reuse, reselling and waste management of textiles. • Collection and sorting systems A total of 19 collection systems are compared for collection flows, contamination levels, cost, suitability of collected textile and availability for the consumer. Four sorting systems are described. • Technology review of sorting and recycling of textiles that describes available and future technology. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ overall green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth.” Read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way” at www.norden.org/greengrowth.

The proposed strategy for increased reuse and recycling of textiles provides a starting point for the work towards a more sustainable textile and fashion sector in the Nordic region. It is focused on the increased collection, sorting, reuse and recycling in the region and thereby provides one part of the sustainability puzzle in the sector. The proposed strategy includes incentives, policy measures and measures needed on local, regional, national and Nordic levels to ensure successful implementation. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers' overall green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth” - read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way” at www.nordicway.org or at www.norden.org/greengrowth

This report is the primary outcome from Part I of the project "Towards a Nordic textile strategy - Collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of textiles" initiated by the Nordic Waste Group (NAG). The report for Part 2 will be published in December 2014. This report summarizes the work carried out in 2013. The three subreports will be the basis for the work to be performed in 2014. The reports for 2013 are:• International market survey of textile flows in the Nordic region and the market for collection, sorting, preparing for reuse, reselling and waste management of textiles.• Collection and sorting systems A total of 19 collection systems are compared for collection flows, contamination levels, cost, suitability of collected textile and availability for the consumer. Four sorting systems are described.• Technology review of sorting and recycling of textiles that describes available and future technology. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers' overall green growth initiative: "The Nordic Region - leading in green growth." Read more in the web magazine "Green Growth the Nordic Way" at www.norden.org/greengrowth.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-502/ This report maps existing initiatives in the Nordic countries supporting the transition towards a sustainable and circular textile economy. The mapping acts as a knowledge base to create recommendations for new initiatives under The Nordic Textile Collaboration, where stakeholders across the Nordic fashion and textile industry can come together and shape the future. The Nordic Textile Collaboration is initiated by Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish authorities and funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The project addresses the significant environmental impacts associated with the production and consumption of textiles, with the aims of reducing unnecessary consumption, extending the lifetime of textiles, promoting circular business models, stimulating digitalization and traceability in the fashion and textile industry, supporting increased and improved collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of textiles.

This report responds to an invitation from the Nordic Council of Ministers to map out Nordic initiatives within textiles as a pre-study to the initiation of a Nordic Roadmap for Sustainable Textiles in 2015. The work has been conducted by:SIFO - National Institute for Consumer Research (Norway)SFA - Sustainable Fashion Academy (Sweden)NFA - Nordic Fashion Association/nicefashion.org (Nordic)IVL - Swedish Environmental Research Institute (Sweden)CRI - Copenhagen Resource Institute (Denmark)Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Environmental Affairs (EK-M) has been responsible for the funding of this project. The project’s steering committee consists of representatives from members from the working groups; Nordic Chemicals Group (NKG), the Nordic Waste Group (NAG) and the Group of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and officers from the Environmental Protection Agency in Denmark. This steering Group is jointly responsible for the direction and decisions regarding the project. NAG has been coordinating the work. Coordinator of project has been Yvonne Augustsson from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ Green Growth Initiative highlighted the need for comprehensive collection, reuse and recycling of used textiles as part of a circular economy. Over 100 000 tonnes of used textiles are already collected each year in Nordic countries. This is for the most part carried out by charities to fund their charitable activities. Around three quarters of these textiles are sold on global markets. Does the export of used textiles support the circular economy through reuse and recycling, or are we simply exporting waste to countries that don’t have the facilities to deal with it? And does the export have a negative effect on textile industries in receiving countries? This report answers these questions by tracking flows of exports to their final destinations, and by estimating the socio-economic and environmental impacts arising from their subsequent treatment.