The Lagos State Government on Tuesday charged everyone in the textile industry to collaborate with the state government to tackle textile and fashion wastes and adopt circular fashion practices across the metropolis.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi- Akodu made the call during the 2025 World Clean Up Day celebrations held at the NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, saying it is necessary to raise awareness to educate consumers, designers, and policymakers about the importance of circular fashion practices.
He added that these practices offer a promising solution by reducing waste, promoting sustainability, and encouraging eco-friendly fashion products.
He said the 2025 World Clean-up Day was being celebrated across 180 countries with the theme “Tackling Textile and Fashion Waste Through Circular Fashion,” noting the theme is apt because the fashion industry has been said to be one of the largest polluters globally, with textile waste contributing significantly to environmental degradation.
According to him, in Nigeria, textile and fashion waste is gradually becoming a significant environmental concern, driven by the rapid growth of the fashion sector and a “take, make, dispose” approach.
Rotimi-Akodu emphasised that these results in a massive amount of waste, with the fashion industry generating 92 million tons of waste annually.
He said the main challenges of this particular sector include: limited public awareness about textile recycling and its benefits; inadequate recycling facilities and collection points; sorting complexity; limited access to recycling technologies; and limited market demand for recycled textile products.
He stressed that everyone must join the quest for a cleaner environment, and all must be reminded that clean-ups alone would not solve the waste crisis. “Everyone needs to spark change in society by promoting individual behaviour change, raising awareness about efficient waste management, and diverting attention to the critical issue of textile and fashion waste management”, the Special Adviser added.
Rotimi-Akodu said the event has allowed bringing up some potential solutions, ranging from effective recycling programmes to collect and process textile waste. Others include upcycling by transforming discarded textiles into new, valuable products, as well as loop textile production and recycling, and ways of adopting a circular economy model that promotes closed-loop textile production and recycling.
“Let us jointly drive the industry change that will encourage brands to adopt circular business models and invest in sustainable textile materials. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that our planet thrives for generations to come”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Tajudeen Gaji, said the event is observed annually to highlight the importance of sustainable waste management and inspire collective action to create a cleaner, healthier planet through awareness about reducing waste pollution.
He said the Government remains committed to promoting sustainable practices, reducing waste, and securing a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment conducive to economic growth, tourism, and the overall well-being of all citizens.
The Guest Speaker, Mrs. Sidiqat Folami, who spoke on the theme, noted that some of the problems encountered in the industry include heavy carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, along with other greenhouse gases such as methane (CH₄), which are released across the entire textile value chain – from pre-production and production, to in-use and post-use stages.
According to her, to boost textile waste management and Circular Fashion in Nigeria, there is a need for Advocacy & Sensitisation, Lead campaigns with practitioners to educate the public, promote circular fashion adoption through awareness, and empower communities with behavioural change initiatives.