At a virtual Town Hall attended by more than 250 Australian fashion brands, retailers, charitable recyclers and recycling and clothing waste stakeholders in February 2023, the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme (NCPSS) released its plan to achieve circularity for Australian clothing and fashion by 2030.
 
 

The new Scheme is being driven by a consortium led by the Australian Fashion Council, that includes Charitable Recycling Australia, Sustainable Resource Use, Queensland University of Technology and WRAP, along with key collaborators from the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence, Australian Retailers Association, Australian Council of Recycling, National Retail Association, Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association.
 

Key to the plan is the recruitment of foundation scheme members during 2023 that will fund the transition phase and help shape the Scheme and its establishment.
 

During the virtual Town Hall, Australian Fashion Council CEO, Leila Naja Hibri, called upon Australia's major fashion and clothing players to commit to change.
 

"Australia’s top 30 clothing brands and retailers bring in at least 60% of the 1.5 billion units of clothing that is imported into our market each year. By becoming foundation members, these brands have the opportunity to transform the way Australia makes, consumes and recycles clothing.

Together we can do what no brand or retailer can do on their own. Together we can start our industry’s journey toward a circular economy that eliminates clothing waste by 2030 and net zero by 2050.”
 

Sustainable business advocate and WRAP Asia Pacific Managing Director Claire Kneller said, "Change in the Australian clothing industry requires commitment from all members of the value chain for successful, longstanding results.
 

For the industry transformation detailed in the plan to happen, we need to engage the entire industry from clothing brands to retailers and consumers, to play a part in reducing the environmental impacts of clothing, and to consume in a future fit manner."
 

WATCH THE TOWN HALL RECORDING

The NCPSS is the industry response to Australia’s growing clothing and textile waste problem, to align with global sustainability and carbon reduction targets.

Watch the recording from the session to learn about how the scheme is modelled off four key pillars - design for circularity, circular business models, closing the material loop and citizen behaviour change, to collectively change the way Australia designs, makes, consumes and re-uses fashion and clothing.

EXPLORE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ASKED

The Town Hall included an interactive session where attendees could get their questions answered. Explore the answers to the questions that were asked.
 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Recruitment to join the scheme is currently open for foundation members. Small to medium enterprises can also become involved as circular leaders, and individuals are being asked to make the pledge to join the journey towards clothing circularity in Australia by 2030. Find out more about the scheme and how to get involved.