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FairWertung - German network of non-profit organisations collect and sort textile waste for various social purposes

Last updated: Aug 9, 2022

Summary

FairWertung is an association of non-profit old clothing collectors in Germany. Its main values hereby are transparency and fairness, thus the association stands for responsible handling of clothing donations. The collection and sorting from FairWertung's partners are exclusively meant for social purposes, following a strict code of conduct that has been implemented to ensure fair and transparent standards - also in regard to social and ecological matters. Additionally, the umbrella association shares their knowledge on the used clothing market, its background and interrelations with the public, contributing to a more responsible handling of textile waste of consumers.

Problem

Used clothing containers have a sometimes dubious reputation, as they are associated with unethical or irresponsible distribution of donations. Every year, large quantities of old clothes, which are often leftovers from the donation containers, are shipped to countries in the global South. The clothes, some of which are in very poor condition, cannot be completely resold and therefore often end up in landfills, which have a lasting negative impact on the environment and local people. The import of old clothing also ensures that local textile markets have no chance to establish themselves due to the low prices of the imports.

Solution

FairWertung's Code of Conduct prescribes standards that guarantee the proper and fair recycling of clothing donations by partner organisations. In addition, the proceeds and/or garments themselves are used exclusively for social undertakings.

Outcome

The world's first ID-based sorting system, developed by circular.fashion, was put into operation in the sorting department of the aid organization Aktion Hoffnung Augsburg. The commissioning is part of the "closed loop pilot" initiated by FairWertung and circular.fashion.