ILO calls for decent work in textile recycling

Approved by the ILO Governing Body in November 2025, the Policy guidelines for the promotion of decent work in recycling provide governments, employers and workers with practical steps to improve working conditions, strengthen social protection and support a just transition across recycling chains.

The timing is significant for the textile sector. Textile recycling has become a cornerstone of the circular economy, driven by extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation in the European Union and in U.S. states such as California. As brands and manufacturers face mounting obligations to collect, sort and reprocess post‑consumer textiles, the sector’s workforce is expected to expand significantly. Yet, as the ILO notes, recycling continues to suffer from “significant decent work deficits,” particularly in informal operations where workers often lack basic protections.