Did you know that the average Australian purchases 56 items of clothing each year, most of which are made from non-sustainable, non-durable materials? This has led to clothing waste becoming a major contributor to Australia’s waste problem. However, Australia now has a roadmap to change.

Seamless: Paving the way to clothing circularity by 2030

The Australian Fashion Council and The Hon. Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for Environment and Water, have unveiled the design for a national clothing stewardship scheme called Seamless. By embracing sustainable practices and adopting circular business models, Seamless will drive the industry towards clothing circularity by 2030 through:

- Incentivising clothing design that is more durable, repairable, sustainable and recyclable.
- Fostering new circular business models for clothing based on reuse, repair, re-manufacture and rental.
- Expanding clothing collection and sorting to ensure non-wearable clothes are recycled.
- Encouraging citizen behaviour change for clothing acquisition, use, care and disposal.

Join the movement: Together we can make a difference

Seamless is not just an initiative; it’s a movement that brings together pioneering brands, retailers and consumers like you. To make a meaningful impact, start by supporting brands that prioritise sustainable, circular design principles. Embrace conscious shopping habits – buy clothes that can be worn for multiple seasons, and think about how you can resell them or swap them when you no longer need them. Consider whether clothes can be rented or bought second hand, and think about repairing that much loved item rather than throwing it away.

Together we can actively contribute to a more responsible and environmentally conscious future for Australia’s fashion industry and the planet that we share.

A vision for the future

Leila Naja Hibri, CEO of the Australian Fashion Council, said Seamless is the industry’s response to its clothing waste problem, that will change the way Australians make, consume and recycle their clothes.

“Seamless will guide the transition from the current unsustainable linear model of take, make and dispose, to a circular economy of reduce, reuse and recycle.”

“We need to start transitioning to the wardrobe of the future, where clothes are acquired differently, loved for longer and recirculated with care. This systematic and seismic transformation will require courage, creativity and most importantly, collaboration.”

“We need to act now. Our industry, and most importantly our planet, depends on it.”