New clothing benchmark data was released today by Seamless, Australia’s clothing stewardship scheme to mark National Recycling Week. It reveals that while Australians are buying fewer new clothes and shopping for more second hand clothes, over 222,000 tonnes of clothing was still sent to Australian landfill in 2023, reinforcing the need for lasting change.
In 2023, 1.42 billion items of clothing were sold in Australia, which equates to 53 items of clothing for every Australian. This is a 12% decrease from 2018, when 1.6 billion items were sold before the impact of the COVID pandemic on retail trade, yet a staggering four fold increase on the number of clothing items sold 30 years ago in 1993.
The data is part of the new clothing benchmark research released by Seamless, Australia’s clothing product stewardship scheme, to mark National Recycling Week (11 - 17 November). It reveals that while individual organisations are making progress, and Australians are starting to change their buying behaviour, systemic change is urgently needed to address clothing waste, which can only happen when government, clothing brands, retailers and the industry join forces.
In encouraging signs, in the last five years, the number of second hand clothes sold in Australia increased by 18% to 240 million garments. The increased cost of living, combined with a greater awareness of the ongoing impact of clothing waste to the environment are the most likely factors in this shift, and they set a strong foundation for the transition towards a circular clothing economy.
Our innovative recycling operators are also making progress. In the last five years, the number of clothes being recycled, either within Australia or internationally, increased by 17% to 140 million garments or 35,000 tonnes. Also, while the amount of clothing going to landfill decreased by 4%, 222,000 tonnes of clothing still ended up in landfill in Australia.
Seamless CEO Ainsley Simpson said, “While this new baseline demonstrates the encouraging progress being made, clothing waste in Australia continues to be a critical challenge. While individual organisations are making inroads, system-wide change is critical to transform the way Australians choose, enjoy and recycle their clothing. If we see these positive changes with organisations working on their own, imagine what’s possible when we join together to achieve a common goal of a circular clothing economy in Australia by 2030.”
“This data is important as it sets an accurate, transparent benchmark for clothing flows in Australia, which informs our Seamless work plan. It shows that we all need to collaborate to establish an appropriate and sustainable national collection, sorting and recycling system. It’s been really positive to see our Seamless members and supporters grow in numbers to over 300 organisations since our operational launch in July earlier this year, so at Seamless, we are confident that positive change is possible through collaboration,” says Ms Simpson.
Unveiled at the Seamless Circular Economy Showcase at NSW Parliament today, the clothing benchmarking data included:
- 1.42 billion items of clothing were sold in Australian in 2023, which is a a 12% decrease compared to 2018.
- In 2023, on average, every Australian bought 53 items of clothing, compared to 63 items in 2018.
- In 2023, the amount of clothes being reused, that is sold, swapped, shared and therefore worn by another person, increased by 2% in 2023 to 592 million, compared to 2018.
- In 2023, 240 million items of second-hand clothing were sold in Australia, which is an 18% increase compared to 2018.
- The number of clothes worn by Australians that were recycled, either within Australia or internationally, increased by 17% in 2023 to 140 million garments (35,000 tonnes) compared to 2018.
- In 2023, 222,000 tonnes of clothing ended up in landfill in Australia, a 4% decrease from 232,000 tonnes in 2018.
Member of the NSW Legislative Council and host of the Seamless showcase, The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, said, “It’s no secret NSW has a waste crisis. We are on track to run out of landfill by 2030 and despite improvements in clothing recycling, our overall recycling rates have stagnated since 2016. This benchmark data signals that now is the time for us to reset and rethink the way we choose, enjoy and recycle our clothes. Now is the time for us to come together to maintain the momentum of more purposeful clothing buying behaviour to address clothing waste and transition to a circular clothing economy.”
“We need to do a lot of actions all at the same time to fix this and reach a truly circular economy. The NSW Government is committed to increasing recycling rates across a range of sectors and also to developing NSW’s first Reuse and Repair Strategy. Clothing reuse, repair and recycling is an integral part of this. “
“Government, retailers, clothing brands, reuse and recycling operators and all organisations operating in Australia’s clothing sector must come together to ensure Australians have sustainable clothing options and accessible, long term pathways for reusing and recycling clothing.”
The clothing benchmarking data was announced at an event hosted by Seamless in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Delta Global, to highlight the need for government and the industry to come together to transition Australia to a circular clothing economy by 2030. In addition to the major sponsors, Seamless members and supporters - the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion and Textiles at UTS, Country Road, FDS at TAFE NSW, High Tea With Mrs Woo, IVE, NSW EPA, Salvos Stores and The Volte - participated in and supported the showcase.
Images (clockwise from top left): The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, Member of the NSW Legislative Council; Ainsley Simpson, Seamless CEO with showcase host Clare Press, sustainable fashion expert; outfit designed and constructed by the Fashion Design Studio at TAFE NSW representing the 53 items of clothing bought by every Australian in 2023; apparel from IVE Group; behind the scenes with the Fashion Design Studio at TAFE NSW; Australian made slow, sustainable clothing from High Tea With Mrs Woo.
The responsible clothing brands and retailers who are Seamless members contribute $0.04 for each new garment placed on the Australian market and $0.03 for each garment that meets the Seamless eco-modulation criteria. These funds are invested in the four Seamless priorities of circular design, circular business models, closing the loop including reuse and recycling and citizen behaviourchange.
For media enquiries, please email info@seamless.org.au
