How a Partnership in Kenya Recycled 100,000 Kilograms of Fashion Waste

This case study describes the 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste in Kenya' partnership, a multistakeholder initiative that uses chemical recycling technology to transform post-production textile waste into high-quality raw materials for new clothing. The project aims to address the environmental impact of Kenya's growing garment industry while providing employment for local women.

• The fashion industry is a significant driver of environmental degradation, contributing between 4% and 10% of global emissions and ranking as the second largest consumer of water. To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F), the sector must achieve an absolute emissions reduction of 45% by 2030; otherwise, emissions are projected to reach 1.588 gigatons by that date.
• Kenya faces severe textile waste challenges, with garment manufacturers producing an estimated 400,000 tons of cotton waste annually. Much of this waste ends up in toxic dumps, and existing recycling methods often result in 'downcycling' into lower-quality materials such as insulation or floor mats.
• The 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste in Kenya' partnership, led by Enviu, PurFi, and Upset Sourcing East Africa, utilizes a chemical recycling technology from the U.S. company PurFi. This process is significantly more efficient than typical recycling, using 99% less water, up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, and 90% less energy, while maintaining a closed process that re-absorbs chemicals into the fabric.
• The initiative integrates social equity by employing a sorting team of previously unemployed women. This team currently processes 36,000 kg of waste per month, with a goal to increase this to 100,000 kg per month. To date, the partnership has sold 100,000 kg of recycled textile cotton waste.
• To scale operations, the partnership is collaborating with Kenya's Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) under the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development. This is critical as 450 new production lines are being developed within EPZA, which will increase the volume of post-production waste.

APA

World Resources Institute (2021). How a Partnership in Kenya Recycled 100,000 Kilograms of Fashion Waste. https://www.wri.org/insights/closing-loop-textile-waste-recycling-kenya

Chicago

World Resources Institute. How a Partnership in Kenya Recycled 100,000 Kilograms of Fashion Waste. 2021. https://www.wri.org/insights/closing-loop-textile-waste-recycling-kenya.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=How a Partnership in Kenya Recycled 100,000 Kilograms of Fashion Waste |date=2 December 2021 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/closing-loop-textile-waste-recycling-kenya |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2021how, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{How a Partnership in Kenya Recycled 100,000 Kilograms of Fashion Waste}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/closing-loop-textile-waste-recycling-kenya}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }