Join us
As a clothing stewardship scheme, Seamless is based on a core principle: producers that put clothes on the market should take responsibility for the entire life of their garments, from design, through to reuse, recycling and end of life.
Ways to partner with Seamless
Become a member
Seamless members are clothing producers committed to tackling Australia’s clothing waste challenge and working towards a circular clothing future together. By contributing 4 cents per garment, or 3 cents for garments that meet eco-modulation criteria, members help fund a national system to collect, sort and recycle clothing responsibly.
Free training and resources
Access resources, events, pilot opportunities and free design training.
Shape industry standards
Have a voice in shaping settings for a circular clothing economy.
Trusted partners and promotion
Get introductions to trusted partners and a Seamless directory listing.
Some of our current members
- David Jones
- JAG
- Lorna Jane
- Sportsgirl
- The Upside
- XTM Performance
- Universal Store
- Zimmermann
Become a supporter
Seamless supporters are organisations across the clothing value chain, including universities, reuse and recycling operators, and technology providers, working together to build a circular clothing future. There is no annual supporter fee for academic institutions, not-for-profits, or businesses with annual revenue under AUD$2 million.
Industry connections and promotion
Connect with trusted partners and list in the Seamless directory.
Insights and resources
Access exclusive reports, resources, training and pilot opportunities.
Shape Australia’s circular future
Help influence standards and connect through exclusive events.
Some of our current supporters
- Australian Red Cross
- Charitable Reuse Australia
- City of Sydney
- Cotton Australia
- eBay Australia
- RMIT University
- Salvos Stores
- Thread Together
Directory
Australia’s Circular Clothing Directory helps you discover and connect with Seamless members and supporters, from clothing brands and charities to repair services, resale platforms, recyclers and more. Funded through a Business Sector Support Grant from the City of Sydney, the directory showcases organisations that are driving Australia’s circular clothing future.
Image credit: The Social Outfit
FAQs
Seamless is Australia’s clothing stewardship scheme and the world’s first circular product stewardship scheme, created to divert clothing from landfill and build a circular clothing economy.
As a clothing stewardship scheme, it’s based on a core principle: producers that put clothes on the market should take responsibility for the entire life of their garments - from design, through to reuse, recycling and end of life. Many stewardship schemes already operate in Australia, covering products such as mobile phones, printer cartridges, plastics, containers, mattresses, tyres, batteries and oil.
Seamless works with clothing producers and industry stakeholders to help people choose, enjoy and recycle their clothes more responsibly. We are building a national clothing system that is easy to understand, convenient and accessible for all Australians.
Seamless takes a stewardship approach, which recognises that the clothing producers who place clothes on the market are responsible for the entire life of that garment, from design through to recycling or sustainable disposal.
Seamless is funded by a 4 cent per garment levy paid by ‘stewards’ who are the clothing producers who become members of the scheme. This contribution is reduced to 3 cents for every garment that meets the eco-modulation criteria. These funds are invested in four priority areas:
1. Circular design: incentivising clothing design that is more durable, repairable, sustainable and recyclable.
2. Circular business models: fostering new models for reuse, repair, rental, and services that prolong clothing life.
3. Closing the materials loop: expanding clothing collection and sorting practices for effective reuse and recycling.
4. Citizen behaviour change: encouraging changed practices around clothing acquisition, use, care, and disposal.
The recommendation is to allocate 75% of total funds raised to collecting, sorting and recycling clothing. This includes research and development into new recycling technology to develop a national system at scale, in partnership with the recycling industry.
Responsible clothing producers that join Seamless pay a contribution on every garment placed on the Australian market. This contribution is 4 cents for every new garment and 3 cents for each garment that meets the eco-modulation criteria.
Garments that meet the eco-modulation criteria are able to be more easily sorted and recycled under a single fibre stream.
Garments that meet the eco-modulation criteria are those which have a primary material made from a mono-material or single fibre at a rate of at least 95%. For example, a 100% cotton shirt would meet the eco-modulation threshold even if the tag or thread was not cotton, if these elements made up less than 5% of the total garment. Similarly, an activewear garment made from 95% polyester with 5% elastane would also meet the criteria.
While still more readily recyclable, a garment made of a mix of cellulosic fibre (cotton or viscose), or synthetic fibre (polyester or nylon) would not meet the threshold, if one material did not make up 95% of the fibre.
Seamless has been designed as a voluntary scheme, which was the condition of the government funding that the Consortium received to design the scheme. However, Seamless is actively advocating for a level playing field with responsibility shared by all producers, large and small, Australian and international.
Nearly 60 clothing producers are members of Seamless, see the full list of members here.
Also, more than 140 industry leaders are supporters including industry associations, academic institutions, technology suppliers, industry associations and reuse and recycling operators, as well as government organisations. See the full list of supporters here.
If your organisation is a clothing producer, we encourage you to register your interest to become a member of Seamless here.
We'll add you to our mailing list to ensure you receive the latest Seamless news and we’ll also get in touch with you directly with an update on your application.
Industry stakeholders including recyclers, reuse operators, technology suppliers, government agencies, professional services organisations and academic institutions, are also encouraged to register to become supporters here.
Seamless is funded by a levy on every item of clothing placed on the market in Australia, which is paid by clothing producers who become members of the scheme. This levy is currently 4 cents per garment, and 3 cents for every garment that meets the eco-modulation criteria.
There are currently no plans to pass the levy on to consumers. Even if all participants did so, the number of garments placed on the Australian market each year is equivalent to 55 items for every Australian. So based on this figure, every Australian would pay just $2.20 in total in one year.