Portugal discards around 200,000 tonnes of clothing a year. Only a very small fraction is reused. Textile recycling and the second-hand market still have plenty of room for growth.
Waste and Recycling in Portugal:
- Total discarded: Around 200,000 tonnes per year, representing ≈ 4% of the country’s total waste.
- Waste disposal: Around 87% of this clothing ends up in landfill or is incinerated.
- Only a fraction is salvaged: Charities collect around 26,800 tonnes, but organised reuse accounts for only a small proportion of the total.
Children’s Fashion:
- Waste: Every year, around 17 million items of children’s clothing end up as waste in Portugal.
- Accumulation: By the age of 16, a child has accumulated more than 1,008 items of clothing.
What is reuse and why does it matter?
Reuse means giving clothes a second life. When you donate or sell your second-hand clothes, you prevent them from ending up in the rubbish. This saves water and energy.
