China processes approximately 50 million tons of fiber each year, generating over 20 million tons of waste textiles, yet the recovery rate is below 10%, with large quantities of old clothing being incinerated or sent to landfills. This is data released by the idle item recycling platform Feimayi, pointing to a core contradiction: the supply of old clothing far exceeds demand, and donation alone cannot absorb it. Data shows that old clothing that directly contacts the skin, such as underwear and T-shirts, cannot be donated due to hygiene and safety regulations, yet these items account for over 60% of total production, creating a massive disposal gap.

Key Points

  • China generates over 20 million tons of waste textiles annually, with a recovery rate below 10%
  • Skin-contact clothing accounts for over 60% of production and cannot be donated under regulations
  • Feimayi has participated in donations since 2014, covering over 500 regions and benefiting more than 100,000 people

Feimayi's data shows that in the past five years, regions requiring large-scale clothing donations have gradually decreased, and simple donation can no longer match the actual needs of remote mountainous areas — donation methods need to become more targeted. Considering hygiene and safety issues, according to relevant regulations, old clothing that directly contacts the skin, such as underwear or T-shirts, cannot be used for donation, yet such clothing accounts for over 60% of production.

For dirty, worn, or tattered clothing that cannot be donated or does not meet export standards, Feimayi adopts fiberization processing or opens it into regenerated cotton, used to make agricultural greenhouse quilts, plush toy filling, carpet raw materials, and industrial soundproof cotton. Feimayi states that most textiles can be recycled, and over 50% of varieties meet processing and utilization conditions.

On the donation side, Feimayi has participated in various charitable activities since 2014, donating clothing to remote areas, covering over 500 regions and benefiting more than 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the platform exports relatively new summer clothing — after sorting and disinfection — to tropical regions such as Africa and the Middle East, providing it to NGOs for refugee relief, with proceeds used to balance the logistics, platform operations, and project expenses of door-to-door clothing collection services. This model presents three pathways for old clothing circulation: charitable donation, regenerative processing, and international support.

Feimayi's statistics reflect the structural challenges facing China's old clothing recycling industry: supply far exceeds effective demand, donation channels are narrowing, and export and regenerative utilization have become key outlets for absorbing the surplus. For the industry, how to improve sorting efficiency and expand regenerative utilization scenarios while maintaining compliance is a practical issue for alleviating old clothing waste.

Source: Feimayi Data Statistics (current year) · Originally published on 2021-03-05