Bangladeshi Textile Circularity Efforts

Bestseller has led a pilot project demonstrating that improved segregation of post-industrial textile waste can unlock new commercial value streams for garment manufacturers in Bangladesh. The initiative, part of the SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) programme, focused on enhancing material traceability and recycling readiness.

Participating manufacturers upgraded data systems to track up to 20 fibre composition categories, enabling recyclers to more effectively match materials with appropriate processing methods. The shift also led nine manufacturers to introduce dedicated technical roles focused on recycling and data management.

Commercial trials with recycler CYCLO resulted in the production of garments incorporating recycled inputs, with eight manufacturers reporting increased use of recycled fibres in place of virgin materials.

“The project revealed a strong supplier appetite for improved waste segregation, transparency, and traceability—critical enablers of a circular transition. These insights are now feeding directly into tailored policy advice to help address institutional barriers and scale effective circular solutions at the national level,” said UNIDO SWITCH2CE chief technical adviser Mark Draeck.

Image Credit: