Forward of 2021, there was a notable decline within the worth and quantity of textile imports and exports. This decline was significantly evident in imports, attributed to a shift in direction of offshoring manufacturing following Brexit and in the course of the pandemic, when the motion of products confronted challenges. Whereas import quantity has recovered after 2021, it has solely elevated by 12.5 %. Nevertheless, the price of imports has risen above pre-pandemic ranges, indicating a shift in direction of a better £/kg ratio, the report stated.
The report highlighted the numerous quantity of used textiles generated within the UK in 2022, totaling roughly 1.45 million tonnes. Of this, round 276,000 tonnes have been offered to the general public, whereas 650,000 tonnes have been diverted for reuse and recycling from end-of-life disposal, and 421,600 tonnes have been exported. Nevertheless, worrying developments have been seen concerning the disposal of used textiles, with round 711,000 tonnes discarded in family waste bins in 2021. Nearly half of all used textiles ended up usually waste, 84 % incinerated with vitality restoration and 11 % was incinerated with vitality restoration. despatched to landfill.
Clothes prices within the UK fell 2 per cent to £16.70 per garment in 2023, in line with a report from WRAP. Textile consumption initially fell as a result of COVID-19, however recovered to ranges near pre-pandemic. Import volumes recovered after 2021, with a rise of 12.5 %, however prices elevated. Considerations persist over textile waste within the UK, the place 711,000 tonnes have been discarded in 2021.
Moreover, there was a notable drop within the value per tonne of donations from textile banks and charity outlets between 2013 and 2023, with out taking inflation into consideration. The discount was 57.5 per cent for textile financial institution donations and 41 per cent for charity store donations, with 2023 figures of £172.5 per tonne for textile banks and £255 per tonne for charity outlets.
Fiber2Fashion Information Desk (DP)