In a bid to address environmental concerns and boost sustainability in Africa’s textile industry, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has unveiled a groundbreaking five-year project. Aimed at promoting the circular economy in the textile and garment sector, the initiative involves collaboration with Lesotho, Madagascar, South Africa, and Ethiopia.
At an inception workshop organized by the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA), Franchesca Beru, UNIDO Project Administrator, emphasized the project’s significance in reducing the sector’s environmental footprint. With textile wastewater contributing nearly 20% of global wastewater, the initiative seeks to implement sustainable chemical management practices and waste reduction strategies.
Key stakeholders from government agencies, research institutions, and industry bodies convened at the workshop to discuss challenges and opportunities in adopting circular economy principles. The project will focus on enhancing resource efficiency, promoting green chemistry, and converting textile waste into valuable products.
Recognizing the shared challenges across participating countries, including limited technical capacity and hazardous chemical usage, the project will offer tailored solutions and capacity-building initiatives. International partners such as the Cambridge University Circular Economy Centre (CEC) and the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA) will contribute expertise in developing innovative business models and providing training services.
Looking ahead, the project aims to conduct national and regional workshops, deliver training sessions on circular economy principles, review existing legislation, and collaborate with industry stakeholders to assess factory operations. Through these efforts, the project seeks to drive sustainable growth and foster a greener future for Africa’s textile industry.
