Australia to set a world-first standard for composting textiles

Accepted in March, the proposal will see a new standard set for composting nationwide, requiring manufacturers to guarantee their products will compost safely.

To meet the basic parameters, they will have to use a certain level of natural fibres and rubbers – including in the threads, labels, and elastic – as well as certified organic dyes, and easily removable clasps.

‘We don’t really want poly-cotton or polyester labels or threads in the compost,’ says associate professor in soil systems at the University of New England, Oliver Knox, who explains that commercial composters will reject items if they are deemed hazardous.

‘Even if they do work their way through the system, they’ll end up basically creating contaminants, micro-plastics and the like.’

Standards Australia will now enter into a development phase, to determine a criteria that won’t drastically affect textile quality.

In order for the circular initiative to succeed, Devine says that brands must actively participate in ascertaining how to qualify, then set up take-back schemes to generate pathways from customer to composter.

Her hope is that, when all avenues for recycling and reuse have been exhausted, this will mean that people can have the confidence to compost garments in their own gardens.

‘We don’t need any major technology breakthroughs to compost textiles or heaps of investment and infrastructure especially given the rise of [organic waste bins] across city councils,’ says Courtney Holm of A.BCH.

‘While composting is lower priority to say reuse, repair, and remanufacture from a waste hierarchy perspective – it is the most important consideration, given how it affects the planet.’