A new initiative has been launched by Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) to develop textile waste-management systems across the garment industry in Türkiye, as part of a thrust towards circularity and industrial sustainability.
Under the programme — named Circular Fashion Partnership: Türkiye — GFA, in collaboration with national lead Rematters and a consortium of partners including Reverse Resources, Closed Loop Fashion and Circle Economy Foundation, will begin work across Türkiye in early 2026. The project is funded by the H&M Foundation.
The plan aims to install waste-management systems within factories, improve traceability through digital tools, and connect manufacturers with recyclers to ensure high-value recovery of post-industrial textile waste. Suppliers will receive support to comply with evolving policy frameworks, and the initiative will include on-site waste-management assessments, training under a ‘train-the-trainer’ model, and matchmaking between manufacturers and recyclers.
GFA’s Chief Executive noted that Türkiye represents “a critical opportunity to accelerate circularity at scale,” describing the partnership as a potential model for global textile-to-textile recycling. The initiative builds on earlier GFA programmes in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia, and reflects growing regulatory and market pressure to reduce waste, cut emissions, and adopt sustainable practices.
With Türkiye’s vertically integrated textile sector, proximity to the European Union and strong manufacturing capacity, the new programme could significantly reduce reliance on virgin materials and landfill disposal — while helping the country strengthen its position as a global apparel-manufacturing hub transitioning toward circular supply chains.
