Exports of Nordic Used Textiles

Over 100 000 tonnes of used textiles are collected each year in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden mostly by charities. Around three quarters of these textiles are sold on global markets. Does the export of used Nordic textiles support the circular economy through reuse and recycling, or are we simply exporting waste to countries that don’t have the facilities to deal with it? And does the export have a negative effect on the textile industries in receiving countries, for example, in Africa? This Policy Brief presents the key messages from a project that attempted to answer these questions. It makes recommendations for both policy makers and textile collectors on how they can optimise the socio-economic and environmental benefits from exports of textiles.