Major global apparel companies including Adidas, H&M Group, Inditex, and Bestseller have formed the Apparel Recovery Coalition (ARC) in collaboration with non-profit The Or Foundation. The initiative establishes a structured Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) operational model designed to fund waste management infrastructure and circular processing in major secondhand clothing recipient nations, beginning in Ghana. By directly funding sorting, reuse, and fiber-to-fiber recycling networks in destination markets, member brands aim to institutionalize accountability across international post-consumer supply chains.

Policy pressure accelerates reverse logistics infrastructure

Addressing post-consumer textile accumulation requires moving beyond domestic take-back schemes toward accountable global recovery networks, stated Eva von Alvensleben, Executive Director, Sustainable Apparel Coalition. European Union regulations requiring mandatory separate textile waste collection by 2025 have intensified compliance demands on high-volume apparel producers. While reverse logistics networks offer long-term raw material access, sorting inefficiencies and mixed-material garments remain primary capital bottlenecks.

Establishing waste mitigation strategies

The Apparel Recovery Coalition operates as a global multi-stakeholder network bringing together brand manufacturers, recycling technology developers, and waste management organizations. Operating across major European, American, and African trade corridors, the entity focuses on establishing EPR frameworks, scalable recycling hubs, and waste mitigation strategies to support circular textile supply chains.