Reimagining Our Clothing System to Reduce Waste

Together we can reduce the 37 kilograms of clothing waste that the average Canadian produces every year.

Current processes to make and use our clothing follow a “take-make-waste” system, also known as a linear economy. We take materials, make them into products, use the products, and throw them away. We have the power to change this process.

In a circular economy, our clothing would be manufactured with renewable sources of energy and sustainable materials, kept in circulation much longer, and recycled back into new clothing or products. By adjusting our processes for creating and using clothing we can reduce textile waste in Canada together.

Make

Clothing manufacturers can use
fabrics created from sustainable
plant fibres such as cotton, hemp,
and bamboo, design patterns that
minimize scraps, and use high-quality
sewing techniques to help clothing last longer. Clothing can be made using energy from renewable sources and limited water usage.

Use

Consumers can reduce clothing waste
by considering renting, reusing,
repairing, and reselling our clothing to
keep fewer items of clothing in circulation
for longer periods of time.

Recycle

Communities can help their citizens
recycle textiles, the same way they do
for plastics and paper products.
Redirecting recyclable textiles from
landfills can extend their life cycle.

Businesses, policy-makers, and consumers need to work together to create a circular economy.