Textile Recycling Association’s Post

Key Findings and Challenges from My Visit to Ghana As my visit to Ghana comes to a close, I want to share some key findings and challenges that were highlighted during my time here. Ghana remains a crucial market for English used clothing and shoes, with a preference for our quality over European and American products. However, several significant issues are affecting the market, and it's essential for us to address them head-on. China Overflooding the Market: The influx of cheaper Chinese goods is a significant problem. While these products are less expensive, their quality is far inferior to English items. This quality gap is crucial because Ghanaian consumers value durability and quality, which our products traditionally provide. Changing Perceptions: There's a growing need for suppliers to understand that the Ghanaian market demands high-quality, well-sorted grades. The perception of suppliers must change; this market cannot thrive on low-grade items. Credit to English Suppliers: Despite the challenges, English suppliers remain leaders in this market. Our reputation for providing high-quality goods is strong, but we must continue to innovate and improve to maintain this position. Bad Publicity: There’s been bad press about English suppliers dumping rubbish in Ghana, which is far from the truth. Our shipments primarily consist of A-grade quality items, and this misinformation needs to be corrected. Economic Challenges: The economic environment is tough. High processing costs, import duties, and unreliable shipping services are significant hurdles. The local currency, the Cedi, has significantly depreciated, making it harder for local businesses to operate. Market Saturation: Shops are full, and there are more sellers than buyers. This saturation is leading to reduced sales and increased competition, making it difficult for many to sustain their businesses. These challenges highlight the urgent need for continuous improvement and adaptation. At ELT Global, we are committed to working with our partners to find solutions that will support the Ghanaian market and ensure our continued leadership. Stay tuned for more updates. #TextileRecycling #GlobalTrade #QualityControl #MarketChallenges #ELTGlobal

Irrespective of political persuasions, I think everyone in the UK who is engaged in the circular/sustainable textiles sector will be delighted to hear the news that Mary Creagh CBE has been appointed as the new Minister for Nature with the responsibility for circular economy within the new UK Government. https://lnkd.in/esJNtvgG As a number of you may recall, Mary was the chair of the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee during their inquiry into Fixing Fashion. The report that came out of that was seen by many in the global textiles supply chain as ground-breaking & has been highly influential in formulating policies in this area in other countries. It is the UK Parliament's most downloaded committee report ever. The previous administration did eventually commit to the key recommendation of the report, to prioritise textiles and consult upon the implementation of an EPR scheme for textiles in the UK by the end of 2022. Unfortunately though the Conservative Government reneged on this. Now we have a Minister in place who actually understands and supports what we need to do, in order to address the very real environmental impacts associated with the fashion and textiles industry, we have a very real chance to make some important strides over the coming years. The Textile Recycling Association is welcoming the opportunity to work with Mary Creagh and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in making this a reality. #Circulareconomy #recycling #circulartextiles #circularfashion #sustainability #climatechange #textilerecycling