Supported by initial funding from Next, Primark, and Tesco, the environmental action NGO aims to deliver a comprehensive sector blueprint by spring 2027.
As its very first milestone, WRAP has published a foundational report titled Transformative Practice in Textiles Collection.
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This initial output sets a clear baseline for the industry by mapping existing practices, identifying key interventions, and outlining strategic options to salvage valuable fabrics before they reach landfills.
WRAP CEO Catherine David said: “Transforming textile collections is an industry-wide challenge that no organisation can solve alone. By investing in this programme, Next, Primark and Tesco are showing the leadership needed to move from ambition to action and help build a system that works for the whole sector.”
The UK faces a massive waste challenge, generating an estimated 1.45 million tonnes of post-consumer textiles annually, equating to roughly 21kg per person. Nearly half (49%) of these items end up discarded in general residual waste or incorrect recycling streams.
Compounding this waste crisis is an economic one, as the global textile sorting sector is under severe strain, marked by an 80% drop in the market price for used textiles over recent years.
Because the cost of collecting and sorting non-reusable fabrics far outweighs their financial returns, operators face a net loss of £426 per tonne.
Without a structural overhaul, these mounting losses risk shifting a £400m financial burden onto local councils by 2035.
To combat this systemic collapse, WRAP’s programme focuses on three core pillars:
- Maximising citizen engagement and participation: Encouraging better donation and disposal decisions by making textile collections simple, accessible and rewarding.
- Creating a fair and sustainable system: Developing a fair, transparent and financially sustainable model that works for all actors across the value chain.
- Unlocking fibre-to-fibre recycling at scale: Improving feedstock quality and lowering operational costs to support the commercial viability of fibre-to-fibre recycling.
The initiative will explore alternative, convenient collection models such as doorstep collections and retail reverse logistics to capture fabrics at the source.
Nicholas Lambert, head of circularity & materials, Primark Cares, said: “Primark is proud to be working with WRAP to help develop an industry-wide approach to the important issue of used textile collection. We recognise that effective collection systems are a critical foundation for a more circular fashion industry. By improving our understanding of how post-consumer textiles are collected and managed, we can help unlock greater value from existing materials and accelerate the transition to a more circular fashion ecosystem.”
Following this initial report, the programme is entering a co-design phase with the textiles sector, bringing together brands, policymakers, and waste management experts to build the final 2027 Blueprint.
