Textiles

Wood Green Crown Court
Biffa convicted of breaching waste export law

Waste management company Biffa has been convicted of breaching waste export regulations for attempting to send heavily contaminated waste to China.


A unanimous guilty verdict of being in contravention of regulation 23 of the 2007 Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations in May and June 2015 was delivered on Friday (21 June) following a three-week trial at Wood Green Crown Court in north London.


Image of clothing in a landfill
EAC proposals to tackle fast fashion rejected by government

The government has rejected proposals for a one pence tax on clothing to fund the collection, recycling and reuse of textiles as it continues to support voluntary commitments over legislative action.

An eye on the markets: Uncertain times for textiles
An eye on the markets: Uncertain times for textiles

Alan Wheeler, Director of the Textile Recycling Association, considers how changes at home and abroad are influencing the textiles market

French law says companies can’t destroy unsold stock
French law says companies can’t destroy unsold stock
By
Rob Cole
| 11 June 2019 |
The French Government is set to ban the destruction of unsold non-food goods as part of new legislation on the circular economy, though concerns have been raised that it does not go far enough.
Rotting waste at sit in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.
Serial fly-tippers receive jail sentences
By
Rob Cole
| 4 June 2019 |
Three men have been handed prison sentences following an 18-month fly-tipping spree and have been ordered to pay back more than £200,000 in proceeds.
Fashion retailers to explore circular business models
Fashion retailers to explore circular business models
By
Rob Cole
| 31 May 2019 |
A number of fashion retailers have signed up to a new project to develop circular business models and reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
Products from the Global Change Award winners
Five innovative companies turning fashion circular
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 April 2019 |
Five companies have scooped a share of €1 million from H&M’s Global Change Award 2019, which supports businesses reducing textile waste or making clothing more sustainable.
Clothing on hangers in a charity shop
London tackles fast fashion waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 March 2019 |
Londoners have saved over 750,000 items of clothing from landfill in six months through textile reuse charity TRAID.
Liverpool charities promote reuse and recycling
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 March 2019 |
Reuse and recycling charities in Liverpool are boosting their communities with projects to keep electricals, textiles and other waste out of landfill.
Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs
Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs
By
Rob Cole
| 20 February 2019 |
Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has released its final report from its inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry, calling for sweeping changes to improve working conditions and reduce the amount of waste produced in the supply chain.
Used and second hand clothing
Textile collections must improve to boost clothing recycling, says WRAP
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 February 2019 |
A new report sets out how the fashion and textiles industry can increase its use of recycled fibres and move to a more circular business model.
EAC report finds leading retailers lagging behind on fashion sustainability
EAC report finds leading retailers lagging behind on fashion sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 31 January 2019 |
A group of major UK retailers are not doing enough to reduce the environmental and social impact of the clothes they sell, according to an interim report published by Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee.
Rags against the machine
Rags against the machine
By
Rob Cole
| 3 January 2019 |
Thefts of textile banks and their contents this year have cost the recycling industry and charities hundreds of thousands of pounds – so what are companies doing to combat the problem? Rob Cole finds out.
What can you recycle at Christmas?
What can you recycle at Christmas?
By Resource |
20 December 2018 |
Every year we throw away millions of tonnes of wrapping paper, decorations, food and other debris left over from the Christmas festivities. If you’re struggling to know what to do with your waste, check out Resource’s short recycling guide.
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
By
Rob Cole
| 20 December 2018 |
Who across the waste and resources world has done enough to etch their name into the pantheon of greats as this year’s Legend of Waste? You can tell us now by voting in this year’s Hot 100.
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Plans to introduce separate food waste collections to every household in England by 2023 and ensure producers pay for the costs of managing their waste packaging have been included in the long-awaited Resources and Waste Strategy.
Carpet Recycling UK announces carpet waste landfill diversion rate increases to 42 per cent
Zero Waste Europe calls for carpet industry to go circular
By
Kate Nicholson
| 5 December 2018 |
Zero Waste Europe and supportive carpet producers are calling for the carpet industry to become a circular industry, by pushing for mandatory legislation across Europe.
Veolia opens up funding for Merseyside waste and recycling projects
Veolia opens up funding for Merseyside waste and recycling projects
By
Kate Nicholson
| 27 November 2018 |
A share of £115,000 from Veolia’s latest Community Fund is available for local community groups in Merseyside and Halton looking to prevent waste and improve recycling.
Promote repair and reuse to increase fashion sustainability, MPs told
Promote repair and reuse to increase fashion sustainability, MPs told
By Resource |
19 November 2018 |
As part of the EAC’s inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry, designers and campaigners have called on government to better support repair and reuse of clothing and provide more information for consumers on the environmental impacts of their fashion choices.
Environmental inquiry ready to rail against online fashion retailers
Environmental inquiry ready to rail against online fashion retailers
By
Kate Nicholson
| 12 November 2018 |
The Environmental Audit Committee will be questioning leading fashion designers, entrepreneurs and campaigners at a public evidence hearing at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Tuesday 13 November.
Award-winning clothes repair service looking for public investment
Award-winning clothes repair service looking for public investment
By
Kate Nicholson
| 31 October 2018 |
Clothes Doctor, a fashion repair and reuse startup, has launched a campaign for public investment and raised £100,000 in just a few hours.
Two people fixing a laptop
International Repair Day: Five organisations combating the throwaway society
By
Kate Dickinson
| 19 October 2018 |
To celebrate International Repair Day on 20 October, here are five organisations at the forefront of the repair and reuse movement, encouraging people to opt out of society’s throwaway approach to our belongings.
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 9 October 2018 |
As part of an EAC inquiry, fashion bosses will be asked to reveal the steps they are taking to improve the sustainability of their operations and reduce the environmental impact of the clothes that they sell.