Mexico City to Promote Circular Economy in Fashion

The Mexico City Congress approved a bill aimed at promoting the circular economy in the clothing sector to counter the impacts of fast fashion. The new legislation assigns responsibilities to the city government to develop programs for the collection, recycling, and final disposal of textile materials.

The decision was formalized through a series of reforms and additions to the Federal District’s Solid Waste Law. The changes define textile waste as any textile material or product made with textiles that is no longer in use or considered unsuitable for its original purpose, such as clothing, footwear, bags, and other items.

The Mexico City Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA), in collaboration with the city’s borough governments, will be responsible for implementing actions to promote the collection, treatment, recycling, reuse, co-processing, and final disposal of textile waste. Additionally, SEDEMA and local governments will launch public awareness campaigns to encourage proper textile waste management and promote initiatives that foster product exchange and reuse.

Among the challenges identified by city authorities is the need to integrate the fashion industry into the new regulatory framework. Authorities urged companies and retailers in the clothing and footwear sectors to participate in recycling programs and promote product exchange as an alternative to mass disposal. This interinstitutional and public-private collaboration is considered essential to achieving the environmental objectives set out in the reform.

The bill establishes the next steps, which include drafting specific regulations and coordinating environmental agencies and borough authorities to operate new textile collection centers. The reform aims to develop a framework for a circular economy within the fashion sector. “Integrating recycling and reuse at the community level could ease the pressure on the city’s waste management systems and reduce the ecological footprint of textile consumption,” the congress stated.

Elvia Estrada, Deputy and Chair of the Commission on Environmental Preservation, Climate Change, and Ecological Protection, who introduced the reform, highlighted that fast fashion is not a trend but a systemic issue resulting from a business model that needs to be addressed. “I am convinced that the circular economy and integrated waste management agenda must engage with all industry sectors, understand their dynamics, and propose progressive changes that also enable the economic development model to remain sustainable,” Estrada said.

Fast fashion refers to a trend characterized by the accelerated production of low-cost garments aimed at meeting constantly changing market demands. Globally, 92Mt of textile waste is generated annually, yet only 1% is recycled, while in Mexico, that figure drops to just 0.5%. Between 2000 and 2015, clothing production doubled, while garment usage decreased by 36%, reflecting significant shifts in consumer behavior.

According to SEDEMA, fast fashion accounts for 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, 11% of plastic waste originates from clothing and textiles, while only 8% of textile fibers produced in 2023 came from recycled sources. In line with these findings, Greenpeace reported that in 2021, continuous clothing production and washing released approximately 500,000t of microplastics into the oceans.