Supporting a coordinated national clothing system for Australia.
Seamless is delivering a program to support a coordinated national clothing collection, sorting, reuse and recycling system for Australia. This program received grant funding from the Australian Government. The program will enable the Seamless scheme to drive industry collaboration, increase clothing recirculation and stimulate next markets for clothing to reduce landfill and transition to a circular clothing economy in Australia. As part of this program, the Circular Clothing Textiles Fund will support projects that demonstrate pathways for collection, sorting and recycling unwearable clothing across Australia.
Building the evidence to drive change
This program drives the transition to a new coordinated national clothing system for Australia that is expanded to collect and sort the clothes we can no longer wear. It also ensures that clothing textiles are given a second life and recycled into new, high-value products and materials. This will reduce the 220,000 tonnes of clothing sent to Australian landfill each year, creating positive environmental outcomes and economic value.
To gather the evidence for a new clothing system, Seamless is collaborating with industry to deliver practical projects that provide data and insights on the feasibility and effectiveness of current clothing pathways, the next markets for clothing, and future system requirements for economic viability, technology, infrastructure and capability.
Program scope
Turning evidence into impact
Seamless is working with partners across Australia’s clothing and textiles industry –from clothing collection agencies to recycling operators – to deliver practical projects that collect, sort, process and recycle the clothes we no longer wear. These projects, running in metropolitan, regional and remote areas, will show us how the current system works, where the gaps are, and what’s needed to build a coordinated national clothing system. The insights we gather will form the evidence base for a scalable stewardship model to drive lasting, positive impact.
Key dates
Seamless Circular Clothing Textiles Fund applications open
Fund applications close at 5:00pm AEST
Successful Fund applicants notified
Fund projects completed
Evidence base for a scalable, national stewardship model delivered
Fund focus areas
Collection
The ways we can collect clothes that can’t be worn again, how much these systems cost and how effective they are at keeping textiles out of landfill.
Sorting and pre-processing
What it takes to sort and prepare unwearable clothes for recycling or recovery – including the costs, types of textiles, skills and infrastructure required.
Recycling and next markets
The current and potential capability and capacity of textile recycling facilities, the markets for recycled textiles, and the demand for these recycled materials.
How to apply for the Fund
Find out everything you need to know about applying for the Seamless Circular Clothing Textile Fund.
Your program questions answered
While the 2024 Australian clothing benchmark quantifies the flow of clothing through the economy, further evidence is required for a coordinated national clothing system that diverts clothing from landfill and delivers economic, environmental and social outcomes.
The Circularity Advisory Panel provides strategic guidance, relevant program governance and sector expertise, as well as insights to ensure that the program aligns with international trends, potential regulatory requirements, and best practice, while maintaining transparency and accountability. The organisations represented on the Panel are the NSW EPA, RMIT University, the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence, WRAP Asia Pacific and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The program has an Industry Steering Group which represents the voice of industry and provides strategic direction across the program activities and deliverables to ensure the program intent and outcomes are aligned. The organisations represented in the Group are the Australian Retailers Association, the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia, the Australian Fashion Council, the National Online Retailers Association, Charitable Reuse Australia and the Australian Council of Recycling. Additionally, organisations from across the Australian clothing industry are encouraged to apply for the Seamless Circular Clothing Textiles Fund.
The program was announced on 19 August 2025 and applications for the Circular Clothing Textiles Fund opened. Fund applications close at 5:00pm AEST on 9 September 2025 and successful applicants will be notified on 18 September 2025. Projects will need to run in the period between 30 September 2025 and 10 February 2026. Data, insights and recommendations will then be collated into evidence for a scalable, national stewardship model. This evidence base will be delivered by 30 March 2026.
If you have questions or would like to discuss your project, email the Seamless Team at programs@seamless.org.au