“The most important message is that of the waste hierarchy, which begins with prevention and reuse”

In Europe, around 85-90% of discarded textiles end up incinerated or in landfills. And of the small portion that is collected separately, only 1% is transformed back into clothing.

We spoke with Pilar Chiva, director of circular economy at the Catalan Waste Agency, to understand what is being done by public administrations to increase the separate collection of textiles and to extend their useful life with minimal transformations. Above all, we delved into what is being done to ensure that textiles take as long as possible to become waste.

We discussed the importance of the waste hierarchy, prioritizing prevention and reuse; the shared responsibility between consumers, companies, and administrations to improve the management of textile waste; and the opportunities offered by the circular economy, even transforming business models.

We also addressed the imminent implementation of legislation related to Extended Producer Responsibility, which will require producers to cover the costs of managing textiles at the end of their useful life. Will this lead to a transformation of the sector towards a more sustainable and responsible model?

You can access the full conversation on Girbau LAB Talks by So Good, a space for interviews where we encourage reflection on the use phase of textiles as a key element for a more circular industry.