Textiles

The fashion industry is estimated to be responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, however only 31% of Irish people see a link between purchasing textiles and climate change.

Recent research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that textiles such as clothing and household textiles make up 9% of waste in the general waste bin.

Globally, it is estimated that one full truckload of textiles goes to landfill or incineration every second while less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new products. The rest is landfilled, incinerated or exported overseas where it has a negative environmental and social impact.

For more information on textile waste please visit the EPA website.

The Revised EU Waste Framework Directive with respect to textiles

The Directive (EU) 2025/1892 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 September 2025 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Text with EEA relevance) entered into force on the 16th of October 2025. This revision makes targeted amendments to the Waste Framework Directive with respect to food waste and textiles.

The Directive contains wide ranging measures aimed to tackle fast fashion and the environmental degradation caused by textile waste. It contains measures to support the separate collection of textiles and apply the “polluter pays principle” which will make the fashion industry responsible for its textile waste. Plans to create an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme for textiles will support efficient textile collection, sorting, reuse and recycling while incentivising eco-design of textile products. Under this new law, Ireland will be required to have an EPR scheme for textiles established by April 2028.

This Directive will facilitate the reduction of environmental and climate impacts of textile and food sectors in the EU, whilst contributing to a more circular and sustainable economy.

View the Directive (EU) 2025/1892 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 September 2025 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Text with EEA relevance) document.

This Directive must be transposed into Irish law by 17 June 2027 and it gives member states until 17 April 2028 to set up EPR schemes. EPR obligations will apply to microenterprises from the 17 April 2029.

For more information see the European Commission press release.

It is easy to reduce textile consumption and waste by reflecting on what we really need, repair where possible and choose preloved and second hand as the first port of call.

Below are some ideas for textile re-use:

Clothes Swaps

Clothes swaps offer a great opportunity for clothes to have longer useful lives while helping address textile environmental impacts.

Here are a number of useful links to find out more:

• Dublin City Council
• Change Clothes Crumlin

Buying pre-loved

You can bring your used textiles to your local charity shop, or look for your next purchase – you can find a charity shop near you on the Charity Retail Ireland website.

Textile Repairs

Choose to repair your clothes and wear the clothes you love for longer. You can find a directory of repair services on the Repair My Stuff website.

For more information on what you can do with your used textiles go to the MyWaste website.

In 2022, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment established a Textile Advisory Group as a sub-Group of the Waste Advisory Group. It consists of relevant industry, community and regulatory representatives to identify opportunities to capitalise on the value of textiles present in Ireland and explore options to improve future circularity in the sector.

Find out more about the Textiles Advisory Group

Reverse the Trend highlights the environmental impact of textile over-consumption and encourages people to choose alternatives to frequent clothing purchases.

The campaign is asking people to embrace circular fashion through the simple actions of ‘Buy Less, Re-wear, Share’.

Learn more at reversethetrend.ie