Asia Garment Hub
Case Study: ReNew FABRIC Initiative - Textile Waste Recycling in Cambodia
About ReNew Fabric initiative
ReNew FABRIC is an innovative, multi-stakeholder initiative led by GIZ FABRIC Cambodia and its partners to advance post-industrial textile waste management and recycling in Cambodia.
The project brings together key players across the supply chain, including Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), Cambodian trade association, TACTAC and CGTI, 11 brands/buyers, 21 garment factories, two mechanical recyclers, waste handlers, and both local and international experts.
Building on GIZ FABRIC Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to promote circularity within Cambodia’s Garment, Footwear, and Travel Goods (GFT) sector, ReNew FABRIC aims to foster collective action for the recycling of post-industrial textile waste (PITW) in the GFT supply chain towards closed-loop recycling*.
*Closed-loop recycling is a process where materials are recycled in such a way that they can be reused to create the same product or a similar product, thereby minimising waste and resource consumption.
Project components
1. Raising awareness: The circularity concept and its practices are limited in the country’s sector.
- Introducing the importance of pre-segregation and best practices to factories, as well as matchmaking with recyclers.
- Enhancing waste handlers’ knowledge on compliance and recyclers’ requirements.
2. Strengthening local recycling infrastructure: Recycling infrastructure is weak and has limited access for factories.
- Advancing recycling companies
- Developing a guidebook for potential investors in textile waste management and recycling to encourage investment in Cambodia.
3. Capacity building:
- Introducing the importance of pre-segregation and best practices to factories, as well as matchmaking with recyclers. Enhancing waste handlers’ knowledge of compliance and recyclers’ requirements.
- Developing training materials and training garment factories on pre-segregation at source to improve waste recyclability.
- Providing training to textile waste handlers to deepen their understanding of circularity.
4. Enhancing compliances:
- Supporting local mechanical recyclers and waste handlers in complying with local laws and the requirements of international partners.
- Supporting waste handlers in formalising their business.
5. Dissemination:
- Contributing publications to enhance the understanding on circularity and foster the policy framework.
- Hosting a series of webinars - webinar 1 and 2.
- Co-developing the Upstream Circularity Playbook.
- Producing the Sustainability Recommendation Paper on Improving Textile Waste Management and Recycling.
- Producing a cross-border study on textile waste trade in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
- Co-partnering on the model Green Factory Program.
Project achievements
Supply chain collaboration: 200+ participants, 12 brands, 21 factories, 4 textile recyclers/upcyclers, 15 waste handlers.
Outputs: 10+ publications and training materials, 8+ workshops, conferences, forum dialogues.
Impacts: Over 3000 tonnes of textiles recycled, 65 percent of sorting quality with 64 percent corrective action plan improvement at the factory level.
Resources
2. Training on Sustainable Textiles: Basics Around its Circularity and Waste Management.
3. Sustainable Textiles: Lesson-Learnt & Success of Pilot Implementation.
4. Webinar #1 on GRS/RCS Certification for Garment Factories in Cambodia.
5. Webinar #2 on HIGG FEM and GOTS Certification for Garment Sector in Cambodia.
7. Guidebook for Responsible Textile Waste Management in Cambodia.
8. Upstream Circularity Playbook by GFA.
9. Investment Guide on Establishing Textile Waste Management and Recycling in Cambodia - coming soon!
10. Cross-border Study on Textile Waste Trading in Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Thailand
About Asia Garment Hub
The Asia Garment Hub is a digital one-stop shop tailored to the garment and textiles sector in Asia, viewed through a lens of decent work and sustainability. Founded by ILO and GIZ, the Hub brings high-quality resources from leading industry organisations and respected voices, bringing together manufacturers, brands, worker and employer organisations, civil society, and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
