Textile waste is quickly emerging as an important issue for the retail sector.

Textiles include apparel, footwear and accessories, bedding, linens and home décor as well as fabrics sold in bulk.

Why is it important?

• Public Policy Issue
  The Council of Canadian Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has included textiles as part of the Phase 2 materials in its 2009 Canada-Wide Action Plan on Extended Producer Responsibility. As a result, British Columbia municipalities and Nova Scotia are considering either banning textiles from landfill or designating textiles under new stewardship programs.
• Reputational Risk
  In the past couple of years, media have put several retailers on the spot for “unsustainable” practices on the quantity of “fast fashion” items marketed and on handling unsold items.

For more information on implications to retailers, please contact:
Philippe Cantin
Manager, Environment
pcantin@cccd-rcc.org
514 316-8771