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France
- Written by Solène
Which kind of waste bins do you have in your household?
Yellow bins are for plastic packaging, paper, cardboard, and metal and green (or white) bins are for glass. Meanwhile, brown bins are for food and organic waste and grey/black bins are for non-recyclable waste​.
Recycling is growing in popularity year after year (Image: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock).
How much textile waste is generated in France? How much ends up in landfills, how much is recycled?
Since 2014, textile waste in France has decreased from 302,000 tonnes to 223,464 tonnes in 2022. This accounts for 16% of all textile waste in Europe. In 2022, France was the fourth largest producer of textile waste in Europe. The total amount of textile waste generated across Europe that year was 1.38 million tonnes.
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Textile waste issues in France. (Image: Cosh).
Does France recycle its textile waste ? How exactly is textile recycled ?
Petit Bateau introduces second-hand sections in its stores. (Image: DR)
In 2022, France recycled 98% of its textile waste. Only 4,141 tonnes were sent to landfill, and 405 tonnes were incinerated. Textile recycling is supported by various collection points, charities, and reuse initiatives. You can drop off your clothes in dedicated textile recycling bins, at reuse centers (ressourceries), or donate them to organizations such as the Red Cross, Emmaüs, or Secours Populaire. Some brands also offer in-store collection programs (e.g. H&M, Le Petit Bateau, Auchan, Carrefour).
You can easily find these collection points using Re-Fashion’s interactive maps.
Resource and recycling centers sort and repair collected clothing, then resell them in solidarity shops or through organized channels abroad. The Red Cross, for example, donates clothing to people in need or sells it at symbolic prices. In recent years, more and more people have started selling their clothes themselves through platforms like Vinted or Le Bon Coin.
How many pieces of clothes does the average person in France own?
On average, French people own around 175 pieces of clothing, even though many don’t realize it, convinced they only have about 80.
They buy about 42 clothes/shoes each year.
Self-portrait with clothing and shoes arranged in a circle. August 1, 2020, The Bronx, NY / Photo by Maria Lee
Where do people usually buy or sell secondhand clothes?
​In France,the secondhand clothing market is quite popular. People buy and sell clothes through a mix of online platforms like Vinted, Le Bon Coin or physical stores such as Emmaüs, a non-profit secondhand shop present all over the country.
Emmaüs sells clothes and shoes for affordable prices. Others like Guerrisol or Ding Fring are also famous.
In Paris, thrift shops, called “fripperies” are very popular, especially the trendy vintage shops that focus
on unique or retro styles. ​
As certain styles from the '90s and 2000s come back into fashion, like flared jeans, leather blazers, and
more, buying secondhand has become a smart way to find quality items, branded collections, and
unique pieces. More people realize that reselling their old clothes is an effective way to free up space in
their wardrobes while earning a bit of money. However, the practice of buying and reselling secondhand clothing remains more common among younger generations.
Inside a Parisian vintage bundle shop, known as a fripperie.(Image: Discover Walks).
What is one thing that France could learn from Malaysia/ U4B?
U4B is the perfect example illustrating that recycling and helping our planet can be profitable. In France, sustainability is often driven by policies and large-scale initiatives, but what stands out with Upcycle4Better is its ability to raise people's awareness, starting from a young age with the school tours.
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This is the kind of initiative French companies should develop to be able to change the next generation's mindset on textile waste management and improve future consumer behavior.
Which facts shocked you during your research?
Some brands even go as far as burning their unsold items to avoid competing with their own products on the secondhand market.
Burning textile waste highlights disposal challenges in France. (Image: Cosh)
What are some national campaigns or organizations in France promoting textile recycling or reuse?
The government promotes textile waste recycling through a combination of awareness-raising initiatives and legislative measures.
For example, the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) in 2022 and 2023 highlighted the challenges of fast fashion and the importance of responsible consumption.
On the legal side, the 2020 anti-waste law introduced a textile repair bonus, and a draft of a bill has been proposed in March 2024. It aims to regulate the sale of low-cost clothing online, increase environmental penalties, ban advertising for fast fashion starting January 2025, and encourage repair, reuse, and recycling of textile waste, all in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
References
Eurostat. (2022). Eurostat. Europa.eu. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
France, L. 2030 en. (2021, May 27). L’Agenda 2030 en France - Site des ODD. Https://Www.agenda-2030.Fr. https://www.agenda-2030.fr/
Le gaspillage vestimentaire. Comment gérer nos déchets textiles? (2022). COSH! https://cosh.eco/fr/articles/gaspillage-vestimentaire-france
Entreprise de Recyclage en IDF : Poubelles de Tri et Collecte ! (2025, July 15). Les Joyeux Recycleurs. https://lesjoyeuxrecycleurs.com/
Don de vêtements | Croix-Rouge française. (2025). Croix-Rouge.fr. https://www.croix-rouge.fr/je-donne/je-donne-mes-vetements
Archives des Be Fair - The Fair Dude. (2022, April 10). The Fair Dude. https://thefairdude.fr/be-fair
Redistribution des fonds Réemploi - Réseau National des Ressourceries et Recycleries. (2024, October 14). Réseau National Des Ressourceries et Recycleries. https://ressourcerie.fr/redistribution-des-fonds-reemploi/
Combien de vêtements dorment dans nos placards ? (2025, June 26). France Inter. https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/on-se-decarbone/on-se-decarbone-du-jeudi-26-juin-2025-4360524
La. (2025, June 17). Habillement : les Français ont acheté en moyenne 42 pièces par personne en 2024, un record. La Croix. https://www.la-croix.com/economie/habillement-les-francais-ont-achete-en-moyenne-42-pieces-par-personne-en-2024-un-record-20250617
Rédaction ID. (2025, July 22). En chiffres : quel est le rapport des Français à la consommation de textile ? Linfodurable.fr; ID, L’info durable. https://www.linfodurable.fr/conso/en-chiffres-quel-est-le-rapport-des-francais-la-consommation-de-textile-52226
Couleurs des poubelles : comment bien trier ses déchets ? (2018). Recygo.fr. https://www.recygo.fr/blog/actu/couleurs-poubelles-tri-selectif