The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) has unveiled its National Textile Recycling Infrastructure Plan, setting out a framework to steer the UK towards a fully circular textile economy by 2035.
The plan outlines four key priorities to deliver a functioning system: investment in infrastructure, building skills and workforce capacity, advancing technology, and strengthening market demand.
Central to the strategy is the need for more automated sorting and pre-processing facilities, alongside innovation in fibre-to-fibre recycling and smarter logistics.
At the same time, it calls for stronger end markets and value chains to ensure economic viability.
The plan is the result of two years of research and consultation through the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN), developed in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
By aligning investment, skills and innovation, the UK can cut waste, reduce environmental impact and create new economic value in textiles for decades to come.
Input came from across the value chain, including local authorities and waste collectors, brands, recyclers, and technology innovators.
UKFT says delivering this new infrastructure will require ‘significant investment’ and shows how ‘fundamental it is that the government rapidly adopts a UK textile extended producer responsibility (EPR) system’.
Commenting on the report, Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said: “The National Textile Recycling Infrastructure Plan is a call to action.
“By aligning investment, skills and innovation, the UK can cut waste, reduce environmental impact and create new economic value in textiles for decades to come.”