Turkey's Old Clothing Recycling Initiative: Circular Economy Enters Logistics Networks

Turkey has placed clothing collection bins directly inside national postal outlets. The 2026 textile recycling campaign under the 'Zero Waste' initiative uses PTT's nationwide logistics network to build a closed loop from household closets to recycling factories. This is not a simple charity drop-off; it marks the first time since the Zero Waste program began in 2017 that circular economy principles have been applied specifically to the textile sector.

Background

Samed Agirbas, chairman of the Zero Waste Foundation, outlined two processing paths: wearable clothes are sorted, disinfected, and distributed to the needy through social aid channels; unwearable textiles enter industrial recycling, with partner companies reprocessing them. In return, these companies donate equivalent new garments to replenish aid supplies. This 'collect–recycle–give back' model effectively bundles charity with industrial raw material procurement.

PTT outlets handle front-end collection and information registration. Each textile item is recorded by source, then transported to a processing center for four-level sorting by category, fabric, condition, and reuse value. This standardized workflow determines downstream recycling efficiency. For Turkey's textile industry, it means a stable, traceable supply channel for post-consumer textiles is taking shape.

Industry Impact

Turkey is a major global textile producer and exporter, heavily reliant on virgin cotton and synthetic fibers. A functioning post-consumer textile collection system directly supports the recycled fiber industry. Industry data shows demand for recycled polyester and recycled cotton in Europe has been growing at over 15% annually, with the supply gap largely due to insufficient sorting capacity and collection networks. By embedding collection points into the postal logistics system, Turkey achieves nationwide coverage at minimal marginal cost.

This initiative may subtly shift the international second-hand clothing trade. Turkey has long been a major transit and processing hub for European used clothes, with large volumes sorted in ports like Izmir and re-exported to Africa or the Middle East. Once the government-led collection system scales, it will prioritize domestic charity and recycling channels, diverting volume from the trade stream and potentially pushing up procurement costs for second-hand garments.

Furthermore, the 'new-for-old' exchange mechanism ties brand inventory clearance to corporate social responsibility. For international fast-fashion brands with production lines in Turkey, participating in this program helps meet the EU's upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation requirements on textile recyclability, while reducing environmental tax risks from overstock.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Monitor the expansion pace of Turkey's recycled fiber capacity. As the collection network grows, local supply stability for recycled cotton and polyester will improve, making it a priority alternative raw material source. - Assess upward cost risk for second-hand clothing imports. If Turkey's system expands further, its absorption of European used clothes could tighten global supply, raising prices. Lock in long-term contracts early.

For Exporters - Engage with the Zero Waste Foundation or PTT to explore exchanging overstock inventory for recycled raw material certificates through the 'new garment donation – old garment collection' channel. - When exporting textiles to Turkey, label fiber composition and recyclability information clearly to align with local sorting standards and avoid being downgraded to lower-value recycling streams.