Fast fashion’s environmental toll is being addressed head-on by Australia’s first Textile Recovery Facility in Ipswich, Qld, run by Salvos Stores.

It is capable of processing up to 5,000 tonnes of textile waste annually, and it operates with advanced AI and robotics which sort and decontaminate textiles, separate materials and remove zippers and buttons. Resaleable items are sent to Salvos Stores, while non-wearable textiles are channelled into recycling and recovery.

With Australians buying an average of 27 kilograms of clothing each year (😮 😠), let’s hope this $4.97 million Queensland Government-backed initiative is replicated all over the country. Surely there must be others. If you know, let us know.