China and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) are at odds over textile waste. China wants to ban import of textile waste, saying to avoid pollution. But ISRI feels the ban will damage recycling potential of the textile industry and would have a negative impact on textile recycling industries in the US and China. ISRI also says the ban would impact the Chinese textile industry, as it relies on recyclable imports both financially and as part of textile companies’ sustainability projects.

China accounts for more than half of the world’s fiber imports. While ISRI supports China’s efforts to improve environmental protection and standards within its domestic recycling infrastructure, it disagrees that a ban on the import of specification‐grade scrap materials will help those efforts. ISRI feels there is a need to distinguish scrap from waste.

The global textile industry waste management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of close to 11 per cent over 2017 to 2021. The market is characterized by many well-diversified players competing intensely with one another. Global players increase their footprint in the market with their huge infrastructure and R&D support, and regional vendors are mainly restricted to developing economies.