Overview

• Germany's textile recycling sector faces a crisis due to insolvencies, collapsing export markets, and the surge of low-value fast fashion textiles.
• Improper disposal stemming from misinterpretation of the January 2025 EU directive has led to contaminated collection bins and public nuisances.
• Overflowing and decommissioned textile bins have turned many collection points into dumping grounds, straining municipal cleanup efforts.
• Export markets in Africa and Eastern Europe are no longer viable due to competition from cheap Chinese imports and geopolitical disruptions.
• Extended producer responsibility and advanced fiber-to-fiber recycling technologies are being prepared but will not take effect until 2027-2028.