The clothing recycling market is anticipated to be valued at USD 6,491.0 million in 2023. Given the rising awareness about the circular movement, the demand for clothing recycling is likely to advance at a CAGR of 10.9% through 2033. Overall, the adoption quotient of clothing recycling remains high, with a forecast valuation of USD 18,265.4 million by 2033.
Among the prominent trends of textile recycling, sustainability remains at the top of the chart. As sustainability is the buzzword for the era, owing to the severe environmental changes, campaigns to patch the carbon footprint in whatever way possible are advocating the adoption of textile recycling.
Amidst the popular circular movements going on for furniture recycling, and shoe recycling, clothing waste is turning into a top concern. As a result, the focus on shirt recycling and t-shirt recycling is anticipated to rise during the forecast period.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Clothing Recycling Market CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 10.9% |
| Clothing Recycling Market (2023) | USD 6,491.0 million |
| Clothing Recycling Market (2033) | USD 18,265.4 million |
In developed economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, there are designated recycle clothing bins for fabric recycling. As a result, it becomes easier for the populace to donate their unused clothes and serve a greater purpose for the planet's sustainability.
On the other hand, new fashion designers are in quest of cheap materials to prove their mettle. Hence, getting the materials for a cheaper or no cost gives them the leeway to invest in the processing and repurposing of reused old clothing, fibrous waste, and scraps. As opposed to the common notion of the fashion industry being the sole consumer of clothing recycling, there are numerous other segments promising opportunities for clothing recycling players.
Demand for clothing recycling is likely to stay strong from the automotive, home décor, construction, mining, and apparel industry during the forecast period.
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Below are the key trends widely witnessed in the clothing recycling industry:
The inclination toward living a conscious life has been promoting the concept of textile-to-textile recycling. Though the fashion industry is largely influenced by the linear business model, circularity in textiles is gaining traction. Hence, used clothes are the new raw materials for the textile industry.
Manufacturers are using recycled textiles to holistically address the end-of-life concerns of fabrics.
Manufacturers are not only sourcing the raw materials used for the development of textiles from the used fabrics but also are looking beyond the used clothing. Materials such as fruit pulp, wood, and wool are recycled to repurpose them into textiles for multiple end-use industries.
In order to reduce the use of plastic from the circular movement, natural and organic raw materials remain most sought-after for their development into textiles. Fruit pulp and wood are increasingly becoming popular as the replacement of cotton.
Numerous companies operating in healthcare textiles are posing low environmental risks by resorting to sustainable fabrics. Among the other key trends influencing the clothing recycling industry, investment in the development of sustainable textiles is rising, especially in the healthcare industry.
As a result, textiles used for medicinal purposes are being produced through recycled materials in a way that they cause less carbon dioxide emission along with other greenhouse gases.
The technological advancements have been so forward that waste materials from several industries can be turned into textiles. One such example is the use of waste PET water bottles for the production of textiles. These textiles are then used for the designing of T-shirts. Such processes of producing textiles, in turn, require fewer liters of water and also leaves behind relatively lesser carbon footprints.
As per the experiments and research and development activities carried out by market players, nearly 50% of the textile can be upcycled for new textile development. The leftover scraps of clothes and rags can also be used to create new fabrics.
The surplus fabric sourced from various scrap heaps is sold to designers, who repurpose these to develop new fabric, thereby eliminating the dependence on the new natural reserves of cotton and wood.
With deadstock assuming the center stage for the textile industry, manufacturers are looking at the scraps to turn them into biodegradable materials with technological intervention. This also serves as an opportunity to combat the adverse effects of ‘fast fashion’.
The live organisms are used for catalyzing the production of biodegradable textiles in an environmental-friendly manner in a laboratory.
There has been a rising consumption of regenerative cellulose, particularly viscose fiber, which has generated a high demand for dissolving pulps. The raw materials are treated with enzymes, and the purification process takes place for the development of dissolving pulp. These are anticipated to remain a key trend in the clothing recycling industry.
The rising demand for the conscious use of renewable natural resources is likely to attribute dissolving pulps as a strong contender against cotton.
The saga of the adoption of the concept of textile recycling has only increased and improved steadily since 2017. Campaigns advocating behavior check for using natural resources such as cotton and wool remain the consistent drivers, creating the buzz about fabric recycling. However, over time, as end-use industries are evolving and showing an acute proclivity toward environment conservation in parallel to containing their overhead costs, demand for recycled clothes has gathered strength.
With regulations and global agendas lining up to administer the use of natural resources, opportunities in the clothing recycling industry have improved for the better for the manufacturers and distributors. Overall, there has been an increase in the CAGR growth rate from 9.9% during 2018 to 2022 to 10.9% during 2023 to 2033.
| Segment | Recycled Polyester |
|---|---|
| Market Share % (2022) | 35.4% |
Among the other recycled types, recycled polyester is likely to remain the key contributor to the revenue in the recycled clothing market. Given the unique properties of polyester-resistance to stretching, chemical resistance, and durability-it remains the top choice for textile manufacturers.
Besides polyester, nylon is likely to remain the fastest-growing segment in the clothing recycling market during the forecast period. Demand for recycled nylon is anticipated to be sustained owing to its characteristics such as high strength, high elasticity, resistance to wrinkles, and high moisture retention capabilities. The demand for recycled nylon has also been increasing on account of its lower consumption of energy and low CO2 emission.
Customized low-cost apparels are the key driver for the demand for clothing recycling in the retail industry. The industry relies on the value-added benefits obtained from upcycling as a key resort to combat the grappling effect of a discontinuous supply of raw materials. As a result, the retail sector is likely to remain a key contributor to the clothing recycling industry during the forecast period.
In addition to this, an acute rise in the demand for low-cost textiles for enriching the aesthetics arising from the automotive industry is also predicted to remain a significant revenue channel for the clothing recycling industry through 2033.
| Region | Europe |
|---|---|
| Value Share % (2022) | 25.7% |
In 2023, the Europe clothing recycling industry is likely to hold a share of more than 25.7%, which is substantial at the global level. Several campaigns pertaining to waste incineration and depletion of raw resources are likely to safeguard the integrity of the clothing recycling industry in Europe during the forecast period.
For the consumers being ‘woke’ in Europe, the government and central authorities have a key role to play. Besides the advocacy for circular movement, the European Commission has initiated Textile for Textile. It has led to the development of near-infrared spectroscopy technology in order for it to be used for the automated sorting of recycled textiles.
| Region | North America |
|---|---|
| Value Share % (2022) | 23.9% |
With a lag of just 2%, the clothing recycling industry in North America stands at the second position, with a share of 23.9% in the global market in 2022. The presence of numerous companies in the region and their creative campaigns to promote the donation of used clothes is likely to be an instrument for the relentless supply of raw materials to the textile industry.
Numerous technological upgradation with the growing penetration of automation for the repurposing of used clothes is likely to facilitate the ease of production. In addition to this, as industrialization and urbanization happen, the farming land gets reduced, and depletion of natural resources such as wood and cotton. As a result, the shift towards recycled clothing is not only a want but a need for textile manufacturers.
| Countries | Forecast CAGR % (2023 to 2033) |
|---|---|
| India | 14.6% |
| China | 12.4% |
The Indian clothing recycling market is likely to secure a CAGR of 14.6% through 2033, while that in China is anticipated to grow at 12.4% during the forecast period. China’s healthy CAGR can be attributed to its well-set-up manufacturing hub, which facilitates the convenient and efficient repurposing of textiles. In addition to this, China is also the largest supplier of raw textile materials for their application in various end-use industries.
In India, numerous start-ups are emerging and exhibiting excellent capabilities to recycle textiles using different modes, which is likely to bring about new growth haven for the global clothing recycling industry during the forecast period.
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Start-up Scenario in the Clothing Recycling Market
Mini Cycle and Air Robe Upcycling their Way to Innovate
The start-up heat map is focused on the innovative capabilities of top exemplary businesses scaling up in the clothing recycling industry. One of the key start-up players, Mini-Cycle, recovers used as well as discarded clothes for their reuse. The company promotes apparel usage through post-consumer apparel trading.
The company has a post-sale policy, which enables parents to trade a payout with used clothes within a time span of two years. When the used clothes are obtained, the start-up upcycles these clothes and then puts them in the inventory for other parents to pick them up.
Another start-up, Air Robe, is creating virtual circular wardrobes that can mimic the inventory of a real wardrobe. This wardrobe allows buyers to track their purchases and then, later on, resell these on online platforms. The virtual wardrobe solution of the start-up helps consumers declutter their wardrobes while having a keen eye on the environment.
Another key new entrant from India, Ecohike, has invested in the research and development facility for turning trashed PET water bottles into T-shirts. The founders claim that they require only 12 PET water bottles to make one T-shirt. This process, in turn, reduces nearly 250 grams of landfill waste.
The company aims at the collection of denim from across the United States. Instead of channelizing these pieces of denim to landfills, Blue Jeans Go Green has partnered with Bonded Logic, Inc. for recycling these to UltraTouch Denim Insulation.
The company has developed a process that helps in the creation of circular cellulose through a mechanical recycling procedure. The process enables the transformation of used and discarded garments into huge sheets of circulation. The circular cellulose is then used for the development of natural textile fibers.
The company operating in the clothing recycling industry has a technological facility that helps clothes to return to their original state of raw material. It can recycle poly-cotton blends or polyester into its raw materials of virgin-grade polyester. It can be turned into lyocell-type fabrics and viscose.
Other Players Operating in the Clothing Recycling Market include:
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Growth Rate | CAGR 10.9% |
| Market Value in 2022 | USD 5,832.0 million |
| Market Value in 2023 | USD 6,491.0 million |
| Market Value in 2033 | USD 18,265.4 million |
| Base Year for Estimation | 2022 |
| Historical Data | 2018 to 2022 |
| Forecast Period | 2023 to 2033 |
| Quantitative Units | USD million for Value |
| Report Coverage | Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis |
| Segments Covered | Type, End-use, Waste Type, Recycling Type, Distribution Channel, Region |
| Regions Covered | North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa |
| Key Countries Profiled | The United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, BENELUX, The United Kingdom, Nordic, China, Japan, South Korea, GCC, South Africa |
| Key Players | Worn Again Technologies, Evrnu SPC, Carbios, I:Collect GmbH, Renewcell, Fabscrap, Infinited Fiber Company, PurFi Global LLC, MUD Jeans International B.V., CuRe Technology, Birla Cellulose |
| Report Customization & Pricing | Available upon Request |
The recycled polyester segment contributes a share of 65.2% of total production.
The apparel industry holds the maximum revenue in the global market.
From 2018 to 2022, the global market exhibited a 9.9% CAGR.
Rising machine learning, and Internet of Things are the key trends in the global market.
Sustainable recycling options in Germany have increased the demand.
| Estimated Global Market Share in 2023 | USD 4,788.2 million |
|---|---|
| Forecasted Global Market Size by 2033 | USD 8,656.2 million |
| Projected Global Market CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 6.1% |
| Market Valuation (2023) | USD 2,279.9 million |
|---|---|
| Market Valuation (2033) | USD 6,244.1 million |
| Market CAGR (2023 to 2033) | 10.6% |
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