Minister opens first textile recycling plant in region

Garments and other fabric-based items, the global production of which has been reported to worsen the environment with 1.2 billion tonnes of global greenhouse gas emissions each year, could now be re-manufactured.

A year from the United Nations Conference of Parties 28 in Dubai, a textile recycling plant by a 51-year-old region-wide and UAE-based conglomerate, among the private coalition partners of the Tadweer (Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company) “Integrated Textile Circularity Initiative,” announced on December 8, 2023, is now operational, in accordance with the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2012-2031.

The Circular Economy Policy is a comprehensive framework for determining the country’s approach to achieving sustainable governance and the ideal use of natural resources. Its priorities include infrastructure, sustainable transportation, sustainable manufacturing, sustainable food production and consumption.

The first of such a facility in the region that has an initial capacity to convert 2,000 metric tonnes of textile waste annually, was inaugurated on Monday morning by UAE Minister of Economy and UAE Circular Economy Council Chairman Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri and Landmark Group Chairperson Renuka Jagtiani.

Among the dignitaries present was UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators President/Chief Executive Officer Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, UAE Circular Economy Council Member.

From the ceremonies, Al Marri emphasised: “By fostering strong public-private partnerships (PPPs), we are not only driving sustainable initiatives but also solidifying the UAE’s position as a global leader in embracing the principles of the circular economy. Our collaboration with Landmark Group exemplifies the UAE’s commitment towards promoting green growth.”

Jagtiani commented: “We firmly believe that protecting our environment is a shared responsibility that cannot be achieved in a silo. Our recycling facility is a crucial step in the region’s fashion and textile industry towards closing the loop on product lifecycles to achieve circularity.”

Speaking with Gulf Today, Landmark Retail Chief Financial Officer & Lead on Sustainability Rajesh Garg explained the relevance of the facility, situated at the Dubai World Central: “As per a recent report published by Tadweer, it is estimated that textile consumption in the UAE is currently at around 500 million pieces annually, of which 210,000 tonnes are discarded.”

“Up to approximately 189,000 tonnes annually or 90 per cent end up in landfills leading to greenhouse gas emissions. This impact underscores the environmental and economic importance of operationalising a local textile recycling plant which we aptly call ‘Circulife,” he continued.

Garg added: “Our aim is not only to reduce landfill costs but more importantly reclaim materials and contribute to a circular economy.”

Connecting it with the significance of PPPs which have also become an essential in almost all successful local to international projects: “While Circulife is owned by the Landmark Group, this endeavour is aligned with the UAE Circular Economy Policy, demonstrating a robust PPP.”

“We have a long-term vision to become a circular and climate-positive across our value chain committed to providing sustainable products, operations and customer journeys by 2050,” Garg also said.

The interested would only have to go to any of the conglomerate stores for the drop-off.

According to Garg, the old clothes and fabric-based items shall be “sanitised and transported to Circulife, the machinery of which can process a wide range of textiles.”

These go through the “meticulous process of shredding” until they become fibres which are then going to be shipped to manufacturing units where they are spun into yarns, “mixed with virgin fibres and eventually transformed into new products across apparel and home furnishings.”

As the global fashion and textile industry contributes to the scarcity of limited natural resources as well damage waterways and worsen air pollution with the domino effect on public health, it was projected that the textile recycling plant, would consequently “negate 140,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, save 107 gigawatt hours of energy, conserve 77,000 million litres of water, and achieve a 70 per cent reduction in eutrophication” – the presence of harmful plants and fish kills in bodies of water.