At last month’s Seamless State and Territory Government roundtable, we heard about the progress being made towards clothing circularity - from community initiatives and circular business model acceleration to durability research for circular design and skills development for clothing repair.
Chaired by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Seamless State and Territory Government roundtable fosters much needed connection and coordination on policy, programs and investment to divert clothing from landfill. It's attended by all states and territories including representatives from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), Queensland; the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Victoria; the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, WA; Green Industries SA; the ACT Government and the Tasmanian and Northern Territory Governments.
Here are some of the initiatives from State and Territory Governments that were discussed.
South Australia’s Reuse Impact Study
The South Australian Reuse Impact Study provides the most comprehensive assessment of South Australia's diverse reuse sector to date, measuring its scale and impact across rent-a-rack shops, commercial retailers, major charities, and op shops. The research, delivered by Green Industries SA in partnership with Charitable Reuse Australia, quantifies the sector's significant contributions to job creation, consumer savings, emissions reduction, and broader environmental and social benefits.
Other initiatives from around Australia
Here’s a snapshot of some other initiatives which are taking place across Australia:
The South Australian Fashion Industry Association (SAFIA) received a grant for their Circular Fashion Initiative through the Government’s Business Sustainability Program. This initiative focuses on practical industry implementations, and the first masterclass on ethical and sustainable sourcing and supply chain mapping was held on 12 August 2025.
The NSW EPA is developing a tender for sustainable procurement of branded uniforms, which will commence with a pilot at the EPA. Tender documents will be released via the procurement portal in the coming weeks.
NSW’s Central Coast Council is preparing a trial for collecting textiles in bags in yellow recycling bins, starting with linen only, to assess the feasibility of kerbside textile collection.
The NSW Fashion Sector Strategy 2025 – 2028 has been released. It seeks to position NSW as a global leader in high-quality, innovative and inclusive fashion.
The Tasmanian Climate Leaders Program, which is supported by the Tasmanian Government, has provided funds to teach mending, darning, and upcycling in schools – educating the future generation on the skills required to keep clothing in use for longer.
The Emerald app has been launched by the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board, funded by the landfill levy for circularity projects. The platform provides a trusted site for users to buy and sell second hand clothing.
Sustainability Victoria is conducting research on clothing durability and consumer messaging, with Seamless actively involved in the project. This research will provide valuable insights into consumer education around purposeful purchasing behaviour and extending the life of garments.
The NT Government is connecting stakeholders for textile initiatives. For example, the Department of Health's Healthy Homes team are collaborating with the Aboriginal Investment Group on their remote laundries project.
Queensland's Project Boomerang continues to progress and is now determining what data to collect in partnership with the Salvos.
The 2024 ACT NoWaste report on the audit of domestic kerbside waste bins has been released, helping to build the evidence base for the volume of clothing being sent to landfill.
Demonstrating leadership
By commissioning research studies and impact assessments, Australia’s State and Territory Governments are building an evidence base to quantify the economic, environmental and social benefits of circular practices.
They are also supporting targeted funding programs, pilot initiatives, and infrastructure development, and bringing together diverse stakeholders across the charity, business, education, and community sectors.
State and Territory Governments are also leading by example through their own procurement and operational practices, demonstrating how government can use its purchasing power and influence to create demand for circular products while investing in the foundations needed for a successful transition to a circular clothing economy.
