The Circular driven future of Australia’s fashion industry

On average, every Australian buys 56 clothing items yearly, most of which are made from non-sustainable and non-durable materials that eventually end up in landfill…

RCYCL has joined forces with the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and Seamless, a National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme, as part of the first RE:THINK program which aims to amplify circular initiatives and challenge business as usual. 

What does it mean to be circular?

A circular economy promotes prolonged use, recycling and regeneration of products. In simpler terms, circularity stresses the importance of disposing of clothing with the same thoughtfulness actioned in its creation. 

How does this apply to the RE:THINK program?

In the endeavour towards circular fashion, Seamless outlines four key priorities that will drive Australia’s goal towards clothing circularity by 2030, including circular design, circular business models, closing the loop and citizen behaviour changes. 

Step One - Circular design:

This encourages fashion businesses to design durable garments that are recyclable and contain recycled materials in order to reduce waste and conserve resources. Seamless will aim to support new business models with the intention to extend the life of clothing, such as yours truly, as well as other possible circular businesses including rentals, subscriptions and businesses that produce made-to-order garments. 

Step Two - Closing the loop:

Closing the loop encourages businesses to design and develop operations that can lead to effective collection, sorting and recycling of end-of-life garments. In doing so, it encourages businesses to extend the life of materials so that they may be repurposed into new yarns or even synthetic carpet underlays; that’s how we do it anyway!

Step Three - Consumer behaviour: 

Finally, and arguably the most difficult part of the process is inciting effective change in consumer behaviours. In partnership with AFC and Seamless, RCYCL will work tirelessly to effectively educate consumers on the necessity to reuse and donate via our RCYCL bags, as well as how consumers can improve their purchasing and product care habits. 

Where to start?

The team at RCYCL takes great pride in our circular initiatives, not only as a business but as individual consumers. Some of the steps that we take to monitor our impact include:

• Shopping from small Australian businesses that produce high-quality and long-lasting pieces. Outland Denim, Australian Stitch and Aprés Studio are some of our faves!
• Dutifully reading and following the care instructions of garments to prolong their life.
• Renting over buying for special events – The Volte is another Seamless partner!
• RCYCL’ing your unwearables with one of our small, medium or large RCYCL satchels.
• Upcycling your pieces you don’t wear anymore.
• Selling via second-hand platforms such as op shops, Depop or Facebook marketplace.
  

While it can be hard to imagine how we can impact such a momentous issue as fashion waste, taking these small considerate steps creates the ripple effect needed to change the industry. 

You can read more about the Australian Fashion Council’s Roadmap to Clothing Circularity and RCYCL’s role within a growing circular economy here!