Fund

The Seamless Circular Clothing Textiles Fund

About the Fund

The Circular Clothing Textiles Fund is a grant-based, competitive initiative led by Seamless to invest in practical projects that collect, sort and recycle clothing that can't be worn again to reduce landfill and transition to a circular economy. The projects will take place across metropolitan, remote and regional Australia and will deliver the evidence needed to enable a national coordinated clothing collection, sorting, reuse and recycling system for Australia.

Fund details

Fund projects will evaluate the pathways for clothes that can no longer be worn in Australia.
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Projects must align with at least two of the Fund focus areas which are: collection; sorting and pre-processing; and recycling and next markets.
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The total pool available for Fund projects is AUD$500,000, excluding GST, and applicants may request up to AUD$150,000 (excluding GST) per project. To maximise the impact of the Fund, applicants are encouraged to consider making co-contributions, where possible.
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Fund applications open on 19 August 2025 and close at 5:00pm AEST on 9 September 2025 and all projects are to be completed by 10 February 2026.

Download the Circular Clothing Textiles Fund Guidelines to find out everything you need to know about the Fund.

Fund focus areas

Projects must align with at least two of these 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.

If you have a project that aligns with two or more of these areas, please read the Circular Clothing Textiles Fund Guidelines to ensure your project’s eligibility and fit. You can reach out to the Seamless team at programs@seamless.org.au to discuss your idea.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Fund, applicants and the activities they deliver must support continuous improvement practices and meet the eligibility criteria.

Download the Circular Clothing Textiles Fund Guidelines for detailed information about eligible applicants and activities. Applicants:
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Need to be a registered Australian business, charity, research institution, or university with an Australian Business Number (ABN).
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Must have been operating for at least 12 consecutive months and be financially solvent.
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Must be able to demonstrate a satisfactory track record in environmental, safety, and financial performance which includes compliance with modern slavery requirements.
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State, Territory and Federal Government agencies are not eligible.

Assessment criteria

Applications received for the Fund will be screened for eligibility against the Fund objectives and focus areas. They will be evaluated against a set of assessment criteria which includes strategic alignment with the Fund, environmental and social impact, project feasibility, scalability and readiness, applicant capability and collaboration, economic viability, value for money and regulatory, ethical and business compliance.

For the full list of assessment criteria, download the Circular Clothing Textiles Fund Guidelines.

How to apply

Confirm you're eligible by reading the Fund Guidelines

Complete the application form before 5:00pm AEST on Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Submit your project budget and letters of support with your application

Apply now

Your Fund questions answered

How can I find out if my project is eligible for the Fund?

The Circular Clothing Textiles Fund Guidelines include detailed information about the eligibility criteria for applicants and activities. If you still have questions, or would like to discuss your project, email the Seamless team at programs@seamless.org.au

When do Fund projects need to be completed?

Fund projects need to be fully completed in the time period from 30 September 2025 to 10 February 2026.

What sort of clothing must be used for my Fund project?

Fund projects must collect, sort, pre-process and recycle unwearable clothing disposed of in Australia. Unwearable clothing items are garments that are deemed unsuitable for reuse, repair or redistribution due to corporate branding, damage, or substantial wear and tear.

To be eligible for the Fund, does my project need to be carried out in Australia?

All Fund projects need to be executed in Australia, unless they support circular outcomes for Australian clothing by strengthening domestic system support, infrastructure or next markets.

Is my project eligible if it doesn’t produce the recommended recycled clothing volume of 20 - 30 kg?

Recommended volumes of recycled clothing textiles have been stated in the Seamless Circular Clothing Textiles Fund Guidelines. This ensures that Fund projects provide a representative and adequate sample size to support robust and valid conclusions and evidence. However, if a project is unable to process the recommended volume – for example, as it is located in a regional or remote location that makes accessing large volumes of feedstock challenging – then this should be clearly stated in the application form to ensure your project can still be considered. We encourage you to email the Seamless team at programs@seamless.org.au to share information about your project before you submit your application.