The Warehouse to Clothing Reuse Pilot, delivered in partnership with Charitable Reuse Australia, the NSW Environment Protection Authority and Uturn Recycled Fashion, explores a practical way to give unsold clothing a second life.
The pilot tests a viable pathway for brands and retailers to move unsold clothing stock into reuse and resale, while also increasing the positive environmental and social impact of charities across Australia.
Why we need a pilot
The Warehouse to Clothing Reuse Pilot responds to a growing challenge identified in the Seamless 2024 National Clothing Benchmark for Australia, which reported a 17% year-on-year increase in unsold clothing stock in 2024.
Textile waste in Australia is significant. An estimated 208,906 tonnes is generated each year in the Sydney region alone, yet aged or unsold inventory remains one of the least understood parts of the clothing waste stream. Insights from the Seamless Aged Inventory Working Group reveal that many brands still lack clear systems and data for managing unsold stock. As a result, items are often stored indefinitely, exported for reuse overseas, sent to low-value recycling or disposed of in landfill.
This pilot is testing an alternate solution and generating practical insights for the sector.
How the pilot works
Brands and retailers participating in the pilot contribute a portion of their unsold stock to test a new clothing reuse pathway. It doesn’t replace or interfere with existing partnerships - this is simply an opportunity to trial an additional channel.
Stock is collected from a location within NSW or the Melbourne metropolitan area, such as a warehouse or retail store. Uturn Recycled Fashion collects the stock at no cost to participating brands and manages logistics.
Clothing is then resold through Uturn Recycled Fashion's online store and network of ten boutique stores and outlets in NSW, helping provide affordable new clothing to Australians facing cost-of-living pressures.
Proceeds from clothing sales are shared between Uturn Recycled Fashion, Charitable Reuse Australia and Seamless to support ongoing advocacy initiatives that strengthen the charitable reuse and circular clothing sectors.
There is no cost to participate and as part of the pilot, clothing brands receive a report showing where their inventory went and the environmental impact created, helping them evaluate this new pathway for managing unsold stock.
Who can participate
Any clothing brand and retailer that places clothing on the Australian market may be eligible if they can:
- Nominate a collection location for aged inventory in NSW or the Melbourne metropolitan area
- Commit to supplying a portion of their aged inventory over a twelve-month period
- Supply apparel including shoes and clothing accessories
- Supply everyday clothing items which may include womenswear, menswear or childrenswear, including activewear
Branded merchandise and uniforms cannot be accepted.
Benefits for participating organisations
By contributing aged inventory to the pilot for 12 months, organisations can:
- Reduce warehouse, transport and destruction costs associated with unsold stock
- Keep clothing in use for longer and out of landfill
- Trial a new reuse pathway using established resale channels with minimal internal resources
- Receive credible ESG data and reporting on environmental outcomes
- Contribute to a valuable knowledgebase that will help shape future clothing reuse policy and stewardship models in both NSW and Australia
- Be recognised as a Seamless pilot partner
How to get involved
To participate in the Warehouse to Clothing Reuse Pilot, clothing producers can complete the online expression of interest form and provide information about their aged inventory and collection location.
Once we receive a submission, a member of the pilot team will get in touch to discuss participation. If selected, organisations are invited to sign a simple participation agreement.
To discuss the pilot before submitting an expression of interest, please contact the Seamless team by email.
Pilot partners
Each partner plays an important role in delivering the pilot.
Seamless coordinates the pilot, working with clothing brands and communicating pilot outcomes and insights to Federal and State and Territory Governments and the broader industry.
Charitable Reuse Australia provides independent impact measurement and verifies any responsible overseas export of second-hand clothing through its established accreditation process, while engaging with government and key stakeholders alongside Seamless.
Uturn Recycled Fashion, an accredited supporter of Charitable Reuse Australia and a Seamless supporter, manages stock logistics, resells clothing through its NSW retail network and reports on volumes and material flows.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority uses insights from the pilot to help inform the development of its reuse and repair strategy and future textile stewardship policy. This aligns with the NSW Government Circular Economy Policy Statement, which states that moving to a circular economy will provide long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for NSW. This transition will generate jobs, increase the robustness of the economy, increase the accessibility of goods, maximise the value of resources, and reduce waste.
