Leading fashion firms have united to launch the Association for Textile Waste Management in Spain.
Decathlon, H&M, Mango, Inditex, IKEA, Kiabi and Tendam are founding members of the association, which has been established in anticipation of looming circular legislation.
“With the constitution of this association, made official at the Museo del Traje, a state museum under the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the associated companies want to give a collective boost to textile recycling in Spain, advancing towards a circular model through the correct management of industry waste,” a statement from Mango said.
Last year, Spain passed new legislation which broadened the scope of materials bound by extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules to encompass textiles.
Though it won’t be enforced until the end of 2024, the infrastructure that would enable companies to reclaim items they once produced is deemed lacking.
Over the coming years, sufficient collection and sortation services will be required to facilitate the recycling and reuse of materials.
The association, overseen by a board comprising representatives of the participating fashion firms, will explore current roadblocks with the view to streamlining the way in which their products are soon circulated at their waste phase.
The presidency of the association will fall on the associates on a rotating basis annually, starting with Mango.
“[Contributors] have agreed to create the association and are working on the SCRAP (Collective Responsibility System Expanded Producer) operating, financial and data model for the management of textile waste and of footwear in the Spanish market,” Mango stated.
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