360 Tons of Waste Recycled in the Ready-to-Wear Sector

Ready-Made Clothing Sector Recycled 360 Tons of Waste

The ready-made clothing sector, which generated USD 20.25 billion in foreign currency for Turkey in 2021, is working towards sustainability, environmentally compatible production and compliance with the EU Green Deal.

The second module of "Environmental Sustainability Consulting Activity" was completed under the "Project for Developing Sustainable Competition in the Ready-Made Clothing Sector," carried out by the Aegean Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Association, which contributed USD 1.5 billion to Turkey's ready-made clothing exports in 2021.

In 2021, 12 companies participating in the project diverted 360 tons of waste from the environment and incorporated it into the circular economy.

Burak Sertbaş, Chairman of the Aegean Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Association, explained that under the first module of the Project for Developing Sustainable Competition in the Ready-Made Clothing Sector, the "Environmental Sustainability Consulting Activity" conducted between January and June aimed to increase companies' technical competence in sustainability and prepare them for conditions affecting the sector's dynamics in the coming period, particularly the European Green Deal. He emphasized that with the second module, they aimed to monitor activities carried out by companies in the scope of environmental sustainability during the previous period, provide technical support for improvement steps in processes, and ensure sustainability.

360 tons of waste directed to circular economy

Sertbaş, noting that 12 leading companies in the sector in the Aegean Region participated in the second module of the "Project for Developing Sustainable Competition in the Ready-Made Clothing Sector,"

stated: "As a result of waste collection activities by our URGE companies, by the end of 2021 a total of 307 tons of fabric scraps were collected, waste paper reached 38 tons, and waste plastic reached 13 tons. Our 12 companies diverted 360 tons of waste to the circular economy."

Providing information about the gains achieved thanks to the collected waste, EHKİB Chairman Sertbaş continued:

"Following our 12 companies' prioritization of the circular economy, 646 trees were saved from being cut, 7,259 tons of greenhouse gas emissions were prevented, 142 tons of water were conserved and 230,862 kWh of energy was saved. In 2021, our companies provided their waste to licensed companies, generating an average annual profit of between TRY 45,000 and TRY 80,000."

Sertbaş, informing that companies received Environmental Sustainability Management Standardization for ready-made clothing and apparel operations at the end of the second module of the "Project for Developing Sustainable Competition in the Ready-Made Clothing Sector," conveyed that this standardization would be implemented in the third module.

Sertbaş said: "Thus we will achieve an important milestone in making our companies sustainable at world standards and simultaneously ensure that our efforts become internationally recognized.

Our goal is to make Aegean ready-made clothing manufacturers the centre of green production in the world," he concluded.