Paving the roadmap for textile circularity in the UAE

The UAE’s textile consumption is currently at around 500 million pieces annually, of which around 210,000 tonnes end up as discarded materials. Up to 90% of discarded textiles are currently ending up in landfills, which then release methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change.

To reduce the impact of textiles on the environment, Tadweer, Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company, announced an ‘Integrated Textile Circularity Initiative’ to be established across the UAE, designed to increase consumer awareness and foster collective efforts among public-private partners throughout the entire value chain. Tadweer stressed the importance of undertaking programmes to scale the organised collection of used textiles.

This first-of-its-kind initiative was announced during COP28 which saw several leading UAE retail entities such as Landmark Group, Lulu Group International along with agencies including Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Emirates Foundation participate in an impactful panel at the UAE Actionist Hub Pavilion within the Green Zone. The partners convened to address the issue of textile waste and present a solution to achieving textile circularity in the UAE. To foster multidisciplinary collaboration, Tadweer followed the panel with an invitation for panellists and stakeholders to pledge their commitment to advancing textile circularity.

The initiative also addressed the vast area of opportunity with a variety of programmes to target four pillars such as community awareness development, textile collection and recycling, enabling ecosystem participation and national policy development. Through these pillars, the initiative aims to organise and expand the collection and recycling of used textiles throughout the UAE, establishing a comprehensive infrastructure to support with disposal efforts and encourage more sustainable consumption patterns among businesses and consumers at a grassroots level.