ACT executive director Rachel Kibbe submitted the letter to the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the coalition, outlining the need to incorporate textiles into the procurement strategy and extend collaborative opportunities to textile industry stakeholders.
The letter acknowledges the administration's initiatives aimed at increasing the procurement of sustainable products and services. However, it underscores the substantial impact of textiles on the waste stream and greenhouse gas emissions in the US.
Kibbe explained: “As the largest purchasing body in the world, the U.S. government has the influence to catalyze more sustainable options, and scale innovation for environmentally preferred alternatives that creates jobs and boosts our economy. I am optimistic that the Biden administration will reverse this trend of leaving textiles out of important funding opportunities and incorporate textile circularity, including recycled content, reuse, rental, and repair, into their efforts to enhance sustainable product and service procurement.”
According to the letter, the amount of textile waste in the US has increased by 80% since 2004, making it the fastest-growing waste category in the country. This has resulted in billions of dollars in costs for both US taxpayers and private waste management companies, as over 30 billion pounds of textile waste are disposed of in landfills and incinerators every year.
This waste has a significant impact on the production of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for around 25% of global warming. On the other hand, promoting textile circularity can create economic opportunities and jobs within the US.
Kibbe added: “Textiles play a significant role in our daily lives, and their environmental impact and parallel opportunities often go unnoticed in crucial government decisions and actions concerning sustainability."
Kibbe remains optimistic and believes that the administration will prioritise textile circularity, which includes using recycled materials and promoting reuse, rental, and repair, to contribute to ACT’s efforts to improve sustainable product and service procurement.
ACT said it looks forward to collaborating with the administration to establish a sustainable framework for product and service procurement.
