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This report by GreenCape outlines the rationale and framework for establishing a voluntary, industry-led Circular Textiles Initiative in South Africa. The initiative aims to transition the domestic clothing and textile sector from a linear 'take-make-waste' model to a circular economy to reduce import dependency, create local jobs, and mitigate environmental degradation.

This report by RMI uses polyester as a case study to analyze how product definitions and demand from retail sectors can accelerate the market for low-emissions chemicals. It identifies specific technological pathways to reduce the lifecycle emissions of polyester t-shirts and argues that setting emissions reduction thresholds at upstream stages (such as the PET resin step) is more effective at driving chemical industry decarbonization than setting them at the finished fabric stage.

This research paper, commissioned by the Estonian Ministry of Climate, examines the feasibility of recycling capabilities for textile waste in Estonia in response to the European Union’s Waste Framework Directive.

This report by RMI examines the emissions and waste impacts of synthetic fiber use in the clothing textile industry and identifies barriers to adopting bio-based and recycled fiber alternatives.

This case study by GreenCape examines The Clothing Bank, a non-profit intermediary in South Africa that diverts excess retail clothing from landfills to create entrepreneurial opportunities for unemployed single mothers, demonstrating a circular economy model that addresses both waste and poverty.

A practice note by the World Resources Institute examining consumer behavior and barriers regarding the secondhand clothing market in India, highlighting the potential for circular business models.