Modern textiles rely heavily on petrochemical products that come from many of the same oil and gas companies driving greenhouse gas emissions. Today, in fact, fashion accounts for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output—more than international flights and shipping combined, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. 48 million tones of clothing are disposed worldwide every year. 73% are incinerated, 12% is reused, 12% is downcycled, and only less then 1% is turned into new clothes.

Suppliers

Primark is enhancing the durability of its clothes so they last for longer and by 2027 its clothes will be recyclable by design. So, when its designers and buyers develop a new collection, they won’t just be thinking about what looks great. They’ll also have in mind what will happen when it reaches the end of its life. To make this a reality Primark will educate its product teams and suppliers about circular design so it becomes part of what they do every day. The company will also teach the teams about how they can ensure the clothes they create can be more easily recycled at the end of their life.

Consumers

After piloting some repair sessions with smaller groups during the pandemic, Primark started to roll the programme out more broadly in March 2022. To date, it has run 43 sessions in its stores and head offices in the UK and Republic of Ireland, offering over 500 free places to customers and colleagues. Primark workshops are led by fashion designer Lorraine Mitchell, a Primark customer. During the workshops, she shares basic hand-sewing techniques and practical repair tips and guides attendees through the hands-on sessions.

Right now, 40% of the clothes sold by the company are made from recycled fibres or more sustainably sourced materials and its goal is to make all of them this way by 2030.

Primark care guides for self repair:

https://primark.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/Primark_Sew_Booklet

https://primark.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/Primark_Button_Booklet

https://primark.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/Primark_Zip_Booklet