Textile Exchange predicts rising recycled fibre availability by 2030, but says output potential will be limited by infrastructure bottlenecks
Textile Exchange estimates textile-to-textile recycling could supply three to five million tonnes (Mt) of fibre for apparel and home textiles globally by the end of the decade – compares with an estimated 1–1.5 Mt in 2025.
However, the industry body’s new report, developed with Fashion for Good, Reverse Resources and TEXroad, warns that collection, sorting, processing losses and technology constraints will still prevent much recyclable waste becoming new fibre.
Entitled ‘Textile-to-Textile Recycled Fiber Availability Data for Apparel and Home Textiles’, the report projects that recyclable textile feedstocks will reach around 15 Mt by 2030, up from about 10 Mt in 2025.
But it says the projected corresponding increase in recycled fibre output relies primarily on large-scale polyester expansion plans from a small number of recyclers, making their delivery particularly significant.
The report matches estimated recyclable waste volumes with recycling capacity, then accounts for operating rates and material losses, to establish a methodology for assessing future supply.
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Textile Exchange intends to refine the model through additional recycler and supplier reporting, with the eventual aim of integrating it into annual materials market reporting.
The industry body recently released its 2026 Materials Market Report, which revealed that global fibre production had reached a record 139 million tonnes in 2025, while textile-to-textile recycled fibre production remained at about 1%.
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Download the full report HERE