Textiles Market Situation Report 2024

Key findings

Consumption

• The covid-19 pandemic had a large impact on textiles consumption, with rates falling 330,000 tonnes between 2019 and 2020, however this downward trend was temporary. Consumption figures are back to near pre-covid levels, with the UK consuming 1.42 million tonnes of new textile products in 2022.
• The average cost per item of clothing in the UK has decreased by 2% since 2015, reaching £16.70 in 2023.

Imports and exports

• Leading up to 2021, there was a significant decline in the value and volume of textile imports and exports. For imports in particular, this was largely attributable to a shift towards onshoring production post-Brexit and during the pandemic when the movement of goods became more difficult.
• Post-2021, the volume of imports has recovered, but only by 12.5%. Yet, the cost of those imports is greater than pre-pandemic levels, indicating a shift towards a higher £/kg ratio.

Post-consumer textiles

• Approximately, 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles were generated in the UK in 2022. Of this, around 276,000 tonnes were sold to the public, 650,000 tonnes were diverted to reuse and recycling from end-of-life disposal, and 421,600 tonnes were exported.
• In 2021, around 711,000 tonnes of used textiles were discarded in the household bin and in general waste containers at Household Waste Recycling Centres. This means almost half (49%) of all used textiles in the UK was disposed of in general waste, or 35 items per person per year on average. Of these items, 84% was incinerated with energy recovery and 11% was sent to landfill.  
• Between 2013 and 2023, there was a 57.5% reduction in price per tonne for textile bank donations and a 41% reduction for charity shop donations, without accounting for inflation. The 2023 figures stood at £172.5 per tonne for textile banks and £255 per tonne for charity shops.