The Seamless National Clothing Benchmark for Australia is the baseline to measure our progress towards a circular clothing economy. It maps the flow of clothing in Australia, from production and consumption through to reuse, recycling and disposal.
The benchmark draws on a wide range of data sources and clearly identifies where data gaps still exist. By sharing transparent data about what happens to our clothing, we can work together to improve our understanding and build better solutions.
The approach
The benchmark uses a material flow analysis framework to measure how clothing enters, moves through and leaves the Australian economy. This globally recognised approach allows Australia’s progress to be tracked and compared over time.
The analysis combines datasets including Australian Customs records with estimates informed by surveys, audits and industry consultation. Where estimates are used, they are cross-checked against multiple sources and fully disclosed.
The result is a detailed picture of how clothing moves through Australia, from production, purchase and use through to reuse, recycling and disposal.
2024 national clothing benchmark
National clothing benchmark reports are released every two years. The latest report, released in mid-2025, is the 2024 National Clothing Benchmark for Australia.
In 2024, Australians added more clothing to their wardrobes than ever before. More than 1.51 billion new clothing items were sold, which equates to 55 items for every Australian and a 6% increase on 2023.
At the same time, reuse continued to grow. Australians donated, sold, swapped and shared 308 million garments locally in 2024, which equates to around 11 pre-loved items per person and a 10% increase on the previous year.
While our wardrobes are filling fast, so is Australian landfill. In 2024, we sent 220,000 tonnes of clothing to Australian landfill, an amount which has barely changed since the previous year.
While many organisations are making progress and Australians are increasingly buying pre-loved clothing, systemic change is urgently needed to transform to a circular clothing sector and significantly reduce the amount of clothing in landfill. This change can only happen when government, clothing brands, retailers and the industry collaborate and join forces.
Read the Seamless 2024 National Clothing Benchmark for Australia.
