Kenya’s drive toward a more sustainable textile future has reached a major milestone, as Rivatex — one of the country’s largest textile and garment manufacturers — became officially certified under the UPMADE upcycling system in 2024. The achievement positions Rivatex as a frontrunner in circular manufacturing across East Africa and marks a significant step in reducing textile waste and strengthening local industry resilience.
The progress comes through a multi-year partnership involving the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Estonian Academy of Arts, Moi University, and textile designer Reet Aus, who developed the UPMADE model more than a decade ago.
A Growing Waste Crisis Driving Change
The global fashion industry generates nearly 90 million tonnes of textile waste each year, with a truckload of clothing dumped into landfills every second. By 2050, the sector is projected to consume 25% of the world’s carbon budget, making circularity an urgent priority.
Kenya faces its own dual challenge:
- Pre-consumer waste from local manufacturers
- Massive inflows of post-consumer clothing from wealthier countries, which have long undermined domestic production
Initial assessments at Rivatex showed that 25–40% of textiles used in garment manufacturing are wasted — with roughly half suitable for upcycling.
Introducing UPMADE: A Proven Circular Model
Developed by Reet Aus and SEI, the UPMADE approach provides factories with a structured method to repurpose textile offcuts into new, high-quality garments. The model has been successfully adopted in Bangladesh, India, and Europe — and now Kenya.
To adapt the system locally, SEI worked closely with Rivatex teams to:
- Integrate upcycling workflows into production
- Develop sample garments from leftover materials
- Implement transparent waste-tracking measures
- Train 55 seamstresses and five designers in circular design and waste reduction
Rivatex Achieves Landmark UPMADE Certification
Following the implementation of new processes, Rivatex received UPMADE certification in 2024. The designation affirms that the factory meets international standards in waste reduction, resource efficiency, and upcycling.
The certification strengthens the factory’s competitive position, enabling it to:
- Add value to its product lines
- Reduce material and energy use
- Improve transparency for global buyers
- Attract sustainability-focused partnerships
Building Strong Partnerships Across Continents
The Kenya project stems from long-standing collaboration between Estonian institutions and African partners. Workshops connecting Kenyan and European stakeholders have facilitated knowledge exchange on circular production models, while Kenyan representatives have participated in policy dialogues in Estonia.
SEI’s goal is to expand circular textile expertise beyond Europe, acknowledging the deeply interconnected nature of global supply chains.
Preparing the Next Generation of Textile Professionals
Through integration with Moi University, the UPMADE project is also influencing textile education in Kenya. The partnership ensures that future industry leaders — designers, engineers, and technologists — gain the skills needed to build a more sustainable textile sector.
A Blueprint for Africa’s Circular Future
Kenya’s progress demonstrates how circular economy principles can be adapted to local contexts to reduce waste, create jobs, and strengthen regional manufacturing. The scalable nature of the UPMADE model offers potential for expansion across Africa’s textile-producing nations.
Professor Josphat Igadwa Mwasiagi of Moi University says Kenya’s transformation is already underway:
“In the next 20 years, Kenya will know how to handle textile waste. Every material will be used effectively — no waste at Dandora, no clothes in the Nairobi River, and dyeing water will be pretreated. This is how people, society, and the industry will thrive.”
With rising global awareness and strengthened international partnerships, Kenya is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s circular textile transition — a shift that could reshape the continent’s manufacturing future.
Source: SEI
