Evaluating textile waste management policies: Lifecycle gaps and opportunities for improvement

This review critically examines global governmental initiatives aimed at advancing circular textile waste management, analysing regulatory frameworks, voluntary programs, economic incentives and awareness campaigns. It analyses their scope, intensity and the specific stages of the product lifecycle they target. Europe leads with comprehensive policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, fostering product recyclability and transparency across the textile lifecycle. However, country-specific compliance requirements often pose costly and complex barriers. Oceania's voluntary initiatives, particularly in Australia, remain limited in scope, while North America is moving toward a structured approach. In contrast, Asian policies prioritize import restrictions over comprehensive waste management. African nations have begun restricting textile waste imports, but face infrastructural gaps in sustainable recycling and production. South America lacks both waste import regulations and initiatives to enhance recycling. This review identifies regulations with a mandatory scope and high-intensity targets as the most effective drivers of circularity but highlights challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies and enforcement difficulties. Implementing waste management regulations that span the entire textile lifecycle, coupled with infrastructure development, incentives for sustainable practices, eco-modulation and domestic recycling support, is key to sustainable textile waste management.