Turkey is elevating used clothing recycling from a niche activity to a national circular economy strategy. Its 'Zero Waste' program recently launched a textile-specific initiative, placing collection bins at state postal and logistics outlets nationwide, aiming to turn idle textiles into resources for both social welfare and remanufacturing. Behind this move lies a deep reflection on the fragility of raw material supply chains in the textile industry—as global cotton and synthetic fiber prices fluctuate, recycling old clothes is no longer just an environmental slogan but a direct factor affecting fabric costs and trade competitiveness.
Background
Launched in 2017 by First Lady Emine Erdogan, the 'Zero Waste' project seeks to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency through source separation. The new textile recycling initiative embeds collection points into the daily operations of PTT, the national postal service. Consumers can drop off used clothing at any PTT branch. Collected items are registered, transported to a processing center, and sorted by type, fabric, condition, and reuse value before disinfection.
Samed Agirbas, head of the Zero Waste Foundation, stated that the project aims to deliver wearable clothes to those in need. Wearable items are distributed through social assistance channels; unwearable textiles enter a recycling process where partner companies convert them into new raw materials or products. In return, partners donate new clothes to the foundation for charitable distribution, creating a closed loop.
Industry Impact
From a supply chain perspective, this initiative is redirecting the flow of used textiles—previously landfilled or exported to markets like Africa—into a domestic circular system. What does this mean for the synthetic fiber and fabric sectors? First, it provides a stable source of raw material for recycled fibers. Turkey is a major textile producer and exporter to Europe. If its capacity for recycled polyester and recycled cotton yarn connects with this collection network, it could significantly reduce dependency on virgin materials, a critical advantage during periods of high oil prices.
Second, the sorting process creates demand for new quality inspection and grading services. Used items must be classified by fiber composition, color, and wear level, requiring both labor and equipment, which adds cost. However, standardized processes can improve the consistency of recycled materials—a key concern for buyers. Previously, batch variability limited recycled fabrics to low-end orders; Turkey's systematic approach may address this bottleneck.
For garment exporters, the signal is clear: the European market's demand for textile circularity is shifting from voluntary commitments to policy-driven requirements. As a neighbor and supplier to the EU, Turkey's domestic recycling infrastructure will directly affect the carbon footprint of exported products. In the future, having traceable recycled content may become a hard requirement in supplier evaluations.