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India: the country wants to become the world leader in clothing recycling
India continues its spectacular economic development, peaking at more than 6% growth, three times more than the United States. The country particularly excels in clothing recycling. Reporting.
(France 2)
India continues its spectacular economic development, peaking at more than 6% growth, three times more than the United States. The country particularly excels in clothing recycling. Reporting.
Tons of used clothing, which the West wants to get rid of, arrive in India by sea, loaded into containers. The clothes end up in the west of the country, where they are sorted and then processed. Hundreds of the company want to make India the clothing recycling capital of the world.
One of them, which employs 500 people, receives 45 tonnes of clothing every day. They are sorted one by one, by hand. Here, 40% of the clothes, purchased from American or European customers, could still be worn. Daval Bhati, the foreman, is responsible for gathering them and sending them to Africa, where the second-hand market is booming. India serves as an intermediary.
The danger of synthetic fibers
Clothes in poor condition head towards northern India. Panipat, an ancient weaving town of 15,000 inhabitants, dreams of specializing in recycling damaged clothing into textile fibers. They are then resold to manufacturers. “Big problem” for Gagan Kansal, director of Kay Gee Enterprises: more clothing is made from synthetic fibers, such as polyester, which costs more to recycle than to produce. “We are unable to give value to this type of fiber”he explains, targeting brands “fast fashion”. When not recycled, clothing ends its life in landfills, where it is incinerated.
