Zero Waste Day 2025: embedding circular principles in fashion
Zero Waste Day 2025: embedding circular principles in fashion
March 2025
On 30 March, the world marks the International Day of Zero Waste – a day dedicated to promoting responsible consumption and production practices while highlighting the urgent need to reduce waste. This year’s theme, “Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles”, shines a spotlight on one of the most resource-intensive and waste-heavy industries – one that is expected to produce 148 million tonnes of annual textile waste by 2030 (Global Fashion Agenda, 2017).
Why Zero Waste Matters
The concept of zero waste isn’t just about recycling or waste reduction. It is about rethinking the entire lifecycle of products by designing out waste and keeping materials in use.
The need for this shift is clear. Only 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments, and 87% of total fibre input for clothing ends up in landfill or is incinerated (European Parliament, 2024; UNEP, 2018). Fast fashion’s linear “take-make-dispose” model is accelerating this waste crisis, depleting natural resources and filling landfills with discarded textiles.
Zero Waste and SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production
International Day of Zero Waste is closely aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Achieving SDG12 requires taking action toward eliminating waste, promoting sustainable business practices, and encouraging consumers to make conscious choices. Businesses have a pivotal role to play here by embedding circular principles to minimise waste and create a more sustainable future. For the fashion and textiles industry, this includes designing products with longevity and recyclability in mind and using sustainable materials, such as fabrics made from recycled, upcycled or biodegradable materials.
Here are some examples of how ESGmark® Certified fashion brands reduce waste and put sustainability at the forefront:
HEXED loungewear is made in small batches to avoid overstock and support zero waste. Their lounge sweats are made using sustainable materials from a mix of pre- and post-consumer textile waste that is recycled into cotton yarn and blended with polyester from recycled plastic bottles. This certified GRS yarn diverts its raw materials from landfill and they knit this fabric in the UK to keep a low carbon footprint.
Udiri’s exquisite jewellery, bags, and artworks are handcrafted from upcycled materials such as waste paper and locally sourced fabrics. By minimising waste and emphasising sustainable design, Udiri aims to reduce their environmental impact and promote responsible consumption.
HEXED
Udiri
Zero Waste: a shared responsibility
On this International Day of Zero Waste, we encourage businesses in the fashion industry and beyond to reflect on their waste footprint and take tangible steps towards circularity. By embedding zero waste principles into core operations, companies can reduce their environmental impact, strengthen their ESG performance, and contribute to SDG12.
To find out how ESGmark® can support your organisation to demonstrate and improve its ESG credentials, get in touch with us today at info@esgmark.co.uk or request more information.
About ESGmark®
ESGmark® is the community for people and organisations who care about the planet and society. The ESGmark® certification is a symbol of trust and distinction which allows consumers to identify organisations who believe in and act to deliver a fairer, more sustainable future. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives help organisations contribute to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, by working to improve the lives of global citizens and safeguarding our planet. ESGmark® helps simplify these complex and important issues and supports businesses along their ESG journey.
Learn more:
European Parliament (2024). The Impact of Textile Production and Waste on the Environment (infographics). [online] European Parliament. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-waste-on-the-environment-infographics.
Global Fashion Agenda (2017). Pulse of the Fashion Industry. [online] Global Fashion Agenda & The Boston Consulting Group. Available at: https://www.greylockglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pulse-of-the-Fashion-Industry_2017.pdf.
UNEP (2018). Cleaning up couture: what’s in your jeans? [online] UN Environment Programme. Available at: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/cleaning-couture-whats-your-jeans.