UPPAREL: 2023 Winner – Waste and recycling solutions
UPPAREL is the Industry Leader award winner in the Premier's Sustainability Awards 2023 – Waste and recycling solutions category. UPPAREL is Australia and New Zealand's leader in textile recovery and recycling. Its Textile Recycling Collection Program addresses the fashion industry's impact on the environment by:
- preventing textiles from reaching landfills
- extending the lifespan of clothing through efficient sorting and recycling
- raising awareness about the environmental impact of textile waste.
UPPAREL established a nationwide collection program to intercept textiles before they enter landfills, reducing soil and water contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. Through meticulous manual sorting garments are either reused, repurposed, or recycled, transforming waste into a valuable resource. The program has diverted more than 450,000 kg of textiles from landfill, equating to approximately 2.8 million individual clothing items and the prevention of approximately 1.6 million kg of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
The initiative also educates the public, promoting responsible options for pre-loved textiles, and encouraging sustainable practices in the fashion industry.
