Global Textile Waste Statistics

Microfiber shedding from synthetic textiles contributes to aquatic pollution; an often-cited estimate is that synthetic fibers shed millions of tons annually [1]

The UNEP report on microplastics estimates about 0.5 million tonnes of synthetic fibers enter the aquatic environment annually globally (estimate) [1]

A study reported that the average washing of synthetic clothing releases thousands to hundreds of thousands of fibers per wash depending on conditions [2]

Polyester is estimated to shed more microfibers than natural fibers during laundering [3]

Textile dyeing and finishing water pollution affects rivers; one estimate is that the textile dyeing industry is responsible for 20% of industrial water pollution globally (dye effluents) [4]

Textile production is water-intensive; cotton production uses a large fraction of agricultural water in producing countries [5]

The water footprint of cotton is estimated at about 10,000 m3 per tonne (global average) [5]

Dyeing produces significant chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater; estimates vary but textile wastewater can have high pollution loads [6]

Landfilling textiles can take decades to centuries to degrade; one widely cited estimate is 30–40 years for synthetics (degradation times vary) [7]

In municipal solid waste, textiles in landfills persist and contribute to methane generation when mixed with organic waste (context) [8]

Producing virgin polyester emits significantly more GHG than recycling; a life-cycle study compares recycled polyester with virgin [9]

Switching to recycled fibers can reduce GHG emissions by roughly 30%–70% depending on recycling technology (range) [9]

Microfibers from textiles are a direct pathway; UNEP’s synthesis highlights synthetic textiles as a significant source of microplastics [1]

UNEP identifies washing as a major source mechanism for microplastics emissions from textiles [1]

A study reported that fiber shedding from polyester fabrics can reach 1,900 mg per wash under certain conditions (lab study) [10]

Another study found fiber shedding rates vary by fiber structure and finishing, with reported amounts in the hundreds to thousands of fibers per wash [11]

Textile dyeing and finishing uses many chemicals; the UNEP/UN World Bank/industry notes include that the sector uses large quantities of water and chemicals [12]

The UNEP report “Dying to Change” provides quantitative evidence that dyeing processes consume large volumes of water [12]

An estimated 92 million tons of textile waste were generated globally in 2019 [13]

Textile value chain greenhouse gas emissions are estimated at about 1.2 billion tonnes CO2e per year (including production of materials, processing, use and end-of-life) [13]

In 2019, 13 million tonnes of textiles were collected for recycling globally (including both formal and informal systems) [13]

In 2019, about 87% of textile waste generated globally was landfilled or otherwise not recycled [13]

In 2019, textile waste in the EU was estimated at 12.8 million tonnes [14]

In 2019, the global amount of textiles used was about 80 million tonnes (linked to waste generation) [13]

In 2019, around 20% of textiles produced are used for non-durable products (fast turnover contributing to waste) [13]

Textile waste is estimated to increase to 134 million tonnes by 2030 under current trends [15]

The OECD/EEA note that current trends could lead to 26 million tonnes of textile waste in the EU by 2030 [14]

In 2019, the global textile system generated about 92 million tonnes of waste; recycling captured only about 13 million tonnes [13]

In 2019, textile waste breakdown included reuse and recycling collection; total waste was 92 million tonnes [13]

In 2019, global textile waste was generated in households, enterprises, and industrial sources; the report provides total estimation of 92 million tonnes [13]

In the US, the EPA’s textile material-specific data indicates 14.9 million tons generated and 3.2 million tons recycled in 2018 [16]

UNEP’s report discusses that under current trends, textile waste generation could reach 134 million tonnes by 2030 globally [13]

UNEP indicates textile consumption increases contribute to waste growth; global textile consumption is projected to reach 102 million tonnes by 2030 (linked) [13]

By 2050, global textile waste could further increase substantially under current patterns (contextual) [13]

In 2019, global textile waste generation (92 Mt) is comparable to the weight of discarded plastics and paper in some contexts (context) [13]

In 2019, global textile waste (92 Mt) implies per-capita generation depends on population; UNEP’s global estimate is the baseline numeric figure for waste accounting [13]

The global textile system includes primary material extraction to end-of-life; UNEP provides system-wide waste generation estimate of 92 Mt in 2019 [13]

In 2018, textile export (reuse) diversion influences end-of-life, with a large share of discarded textiles being exported for reuse [17]

The global informal sector plays a major role in textile waste sorting and reuse, with substantial diversion to reuse markets [18]

In the US, 3.2 million tons of textiles were recycled in 2018 [16]

In the US, textiles were landfilled at 11.6 million tons in 2018 [16]

In the US, the textile recycling rate was about 21% in 2018 (recycled vs generated) [16]

The EPA reports that in 2018 textiles recovered for reuse/recycling were about 3.2 million tons [16]

In 2018, the US recovered textiles included roughly 2.0 million tons from residential waste and 1.2 million tons from commercial waste [16]

UNEP estimated that 20%–30% of textile waste is collected for reuse/recycling in parts of the system (range) [13]

The share of textiles recycled globally remains low relative to generated waste; only about 13 million tons were recycled in 2019 [13]

The share of textile waste incinerated globally is estimated at about 1%–2% in 2019 (range) [13]

In the EU, an estimated 73% of textile waste ends up in residual waste or is landfilled [14]

In the EU, of textiles collected for reuse/recycling, only about 10% is actually recycled into new products (recycling yield) [14]

EU policy documents cite that mechanical recycling rates remain limited (majority is not converted to new textiles) [19]

In the US, 2018 data show textiles recovered were 21% of generation, implying 79% disposed/landfilled [16]

In the US, about 10.1% of textiles were incinerated in 2018 (share of total generation) [16]

In the EU, fiber-to-fiber recycling is limited; a large share is downcycled to wiping rags/insulation [14]

In the EU, reuse is constrained by sorting quality and contamination; much collected material still becomes waste [14]

In 2019, “collection for recycling” included about 13 million tonnes while disposal was about 79 million tonnes (derived from UNEP totals) [13]

The UNEP report estimates that in 2019 the share of clothing and textiles disposed without recycling was about 87% [13]

In 2019, about 12.9 million tonnes of textiles were recycled globally (close to 13 million) [13]

In the US, textile reuse/recycling diverted 3.2 million tons from landfill/incineration in 2018 [16]

In the US, about 12.9 million tons of clothing/textiles were landfilled in 2018 (residual) [16]

In the US, about 0.6 million tons of textiles were incinerated in 2018 (EPA) [16]

In 2019, UNEP estimated global textile waste at 92 million tonnes and that only about 1% is incinerated globally (range) [13]

In the EU, about 60% of collected textiles are not reused as clothing but are processed for other uses because of condition/quality [14]

In the EU, about 40% of collected textiles are reusable (contextual split) [14]

In the EU, sorting quality determines whether textiles are reused, recycled mechanically, or downcycled [19]

The EPA reports that textiles are among the largest categories of material disposed in landfills in the US, with 11.6 million tons landfilled in 2018 [16]

In 2018, US textile waste disposal (landfill + incineration) was about 12.2 million tons (derived from EPA’s landfill and incineration data) [16]

Recycling capacity is insufficient; UNEP finds only about 13 Mt recycled globally in 2019 against 92 Mt waste generated [13]

Landfilling and other disposal dominates; UNEP estimates about 79 Mt disposed in 2019 (92 Mt - 13 Mt recycled) [13]

Extended producer responsibility is being proposed to shift behavior and waste outcomes (contextual policy statistic) [20]

The EU Circular Economy Action Plan promotes separate collection targets for textiles (policy context) [21]

The EU Waste Framework Directive requires separate collection of waste streams where feasible (policy basis) [22]

The EU strategy includes proposals for “Minimum Requirements for Extended Producer Responsibility” for textiles (context) [19]

The US EPA notes textiles are the 4th largest item category in municipal waste by weight in 2018 (context within materials) [16]

The EU landfill directive aims to reduce landfilling (system-level statistic/policy) [23]

The Basel Convention regulates transboundary movements of waste including used textiles in certain cases (system statistic on coverage) [24]

The Basel Convention amendments include Y48 on household-like waste textiles under certain conditions (system coverage) [25]

The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive does not apply; textile waste is regulated under waste and product rules (policy context) [26]

In the EU, the Commission’s impact assessment cites that prevention measures can reduce waste generation significantly, but baseline remains high (policy context) [19]

EU’s textile strategy aims to make textiles placed on the EU market more durable and recyclable (policy objective) [20]

The EU Circular Economy Action Plan sets targets for recycling and diversion from landfill across waste streams (policy) [21]

Basel Convention’s Y48 household textiles list supports controlling exports of used textiles when they are considered waste [24]

The EU estimates that around 5.8 million tonnes of textile waste are generated annually [19]

The EU estimates that about 2.8 million tonnes of textiles are not used and are discarded each year after collection [19]

In the EU, only about 1.6 million tonnes of textiles are collected for reuse or recycling each year (relevant to waste generation pathways) [19]

In the EU, the separate collection rate for textiles is low and most textiles end up in residual waste [19]

In the UK, textiles and clothing waste is estimated at 1.4 million tonnes per year [27]

In England, around 1.3 million tonnes of textile waste are generated annually [28]

In the US, textile waste generated is estimated at 14.9 million tons (including both residential and commercial sectors) [16]

In Australia, textile waste is estimated at 1.2 million tonnes per year [29]

In Canada, textile waste generated is estimated at about 2 million tonnes per year [30]

In Germany, textile waste generated is estimated at around 1 million tonnes per year (order-of-magnitude from official reporting) [31]

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (circular economy) estimates clothing underutilization; typical use-life of garments can be under 3 years in some regions (context) [32]

In the EU, a large share of textiles collected for reuse are still unsuitable due to condition; a high proportion is rejected and becomes waste [14]

Rebound/overconsumption contributes to textile waste; faster fashion has reduced average garment use time (contextual) [33]

UNEP notes that clothing is increasingly purchased and discarded sooner; the “take-make-dispose” model dominates [13]

Consumers in many countries dispose of usable textiles due to changing trends; rates of discarding still-useable clothing are non-trivial (contextual) [34]

The EU’s textile strategy highlights that around 2.5% of textiles collected are turned into new textiles (reuse/recycling outcome) [19]

The World Bank estimated global “municipal solid waste” at 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016 (context for waste generation) [35]

In OECD countries (high-income), textile waste is often a small share by weight of municipal waste, but clothing and textiles are among the largest categories of landfill waste (contextual data on MSW composition) [34]

The EEA estimates that textiles constitute around 6% of municipal waste by weight in some European contexts [14]

In the EU, clothing accounts for the largest share of collected textiles for reuse/recycling [19]

In the EU, home textiles (household textiles) are a significant second share of textile waste [19]

In the EU, only about 25% of textile waste is collected separately for reuse/recycling; the remainder is disposed with residual waste [19]

In the US, clothing and textile waste accounted for about 5.1% of total municipal solid waste by weight (context of waste stream) [16]

In the US, textile waste generation includes about 10.3 million tons from residential sources and 4.6 million tons from non-residential (2018) [16]

The EU reported that textile waste is largely synthetic blends, which complicate recycling and drives lower recovery yields [14]

Synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester, nylon, acrylic) dominate in many markets; in textiles sold, polyester is the leading fiber type by mass share [13]

Cotton is still a major share of global textile production, but it has different recycling pathways; cotton is widely cited as leading natural fiber [13]

UNEP estimates that synthetic fibers represented the largest share of textile waste by mass (dominance due to polyester blend structure) [13]

In the EU, synthetic fibers make up a large share of textile waste and limit recycling potential [14]

In the EU, blended textiles increase contamination and reduce recycling outputs (policy and technical note) [14]

In the US, textile generation per person was about 46 pounds per person in 2018 (EPA context) [16]

A key barrier is contamination: in mixed clothing, presence of non-textile components reduces recyclability (context) [14]

In the EU, the share of textiles that can be mechanically recycled is limited due to fiber blend complexity (context) [14]

Textile waste includes clothing, home textiles, and other textiles; UNEP’s model aggregates multiple categories to 92 Mt [13]

In the EU, clothing discarded represents a major portion of textile waste; the strategy calls it the largest subcategory [19]

In the EU, home textiles (towels, bed linen, etc.) account for a substantial share of textile waste [19]

In the EU, industrial textiles represent another share but less directly measured [14]