Closed Loop Fashion hosted a one-day Textile Waste Management Training in Semarang on 4 November 2025, in partnership with the Busana Apparel Group, one of the globally largest garment export and manufacturing groups. The training brought together 30 participants from 19 factories across Indonesia, the day opened with warm remarks from Busana Apparel Group, who shared insights of their journey into textile waste management operations and the importance of the topic.
The CLF team introduced our proprietary Textile Waste Management Standard (TWMS) and shared a step-by-step walkthrough of the key components needed to develop standardized waste management operating procedures within factory operations. The training highlighted the different aspects of waste management such as waste monitoring, tracking, compliance requirements along the whole process including on Workplace Health and Safety and Fire Safety. Part of the training included a hands-on session on the factory floor, where practical scenarios were demonstrated. The procedures had been jointly prepared with the factory in advance to serve as benchmarks for the training day. To create a shared learning opportunity for others, participants observed best practices in waste segregation, handling and storage, gaining a practical perspective to compare with their own systems and identify improvement areas.
The training continued with an interactive waste flow mapping exercise, where participants applied what they had learned to analyse the flow of textile waste within their own facilities. The exercise helped them identify gaps and connect these findings to the Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) developed by Closed Loop Fashion during previous factory assessments. Group discussions highlighted shared challenges such as traceability, transparency, workforce commitment and behaviour change, limited capabilities, lack of knowledge, segregation difficulties and cost constraints, emphasising the importance of long-term commitment to implementing circular solutions.
Two local waste handlers also joined the training day in an engaged sharing session providing their perspectives. They outlined both challenges and practical insights to bridge the gap in textile waste management between the waste concentrators and the manufacturers. For waste handlers, limited storage space and exposure to rain often lead to contamination, and while sorting materials by type and colour remains a manual and time-intensive process, monthly reporting to factories helps maintain transparency but requires extra effort and resources to achieve detailed traceability. Many handlers also face difficulties finding reliable buyers for all waste types, leaving some materials still destined for landfill or other least preferred disposal methods. This dialogue showed the gaps in which factories can better implement textile waste management measures so there is a mutual symbiosis benefit for both waste handlers and factories.
Factories shared that they are faced with issues such as limited storage, lack of trained personnel, inconsistent segregation as well as limited transparency from waste handlers and collectors. Mixed materials and complex bureaucracy also make tracing and verification of waste difficult. Participants agreed that collaboration, clear documentation and stronger oversight through data reporting, local government involvement and formal agreements with waste handlers are key to improving traceability and responsible waste handling.
Closed Loop Fashion extends sincere thanks to all participants, partners and our generous host Busana Apparel Group for their active engagement and contribution throughout the day. This training marks an encouraging step toward strengthening circular practices and improving textile waste management systems within Indonesia’s manufacturing sector.
The training is part of the Circular Fashion Partnership (CFP) Indonesia program, funded by the H&M Foundation and participating brands, led by the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) with Rantai Tekstil Lestari (RTL) as National Lead, and implemented by Closed Loop Fashion, Reverse Resources, and Circle Economy.
