BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a593f66ea931 DTSTART:20260623T163000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20260623T173000Z LOCATION:Online and Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Used textiles in practice: Trade\, impacts and development pathways CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:International trade in used textiles plays an important role in supporting textile circularity by extending the life of garments\, reduci ng pressure on disposal systems\, and supplying affordable clothing to con sumers in many developing countries. At the same time\, concerns about tex tile waste\, pollution and limited waste-management capacity in some impor ting countries have brought renewed attention to how used textiles and tex tile waste should be addressed under the Basel Convention. As Parties and observers consider the possible reframing of textile waste under the Conv ention\, there is a need for evidence-based discussions that distinguish c learly between reusable textiles\, recyclable materials and waste requirin g environmentally sound management. This distinction is particularly impor tant for developing countries\, where second-hand clothing markets can sup port livelihoods\, affordable consumption\, repair and reuse systems\, whi le also requiring stronger approaches to residual waste and recycling. Th is side event\, organized by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) i n partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)\, will bring together experts and practitioners to discuss the trade\, environmental and develo pment implications of potential regulatory changes affecting used textiles and textile waste. The session will explore how policy frameworks can sup port circularity and waste prevention while avoiding unintended impacts on functioning reuse and recycling systems. The event will also mark the la unch of a new technical report prepared under the Sustainable Manufacturin g and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme\, funded by the United King dom’s Foreign\, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented in p artnership with UNCTAD. The report\, “Trade in secondhand clothing: Anal ysis of markets in Uganda\, the United Republic of Tanzania and the United States of America”\, provides new empirical evidence on upstream and do wnstream dynamics in the second-hand clothing value chain. Based on field research in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania\, and analysis of the United States as an important source market\, the report finds that ar ound 96% of analyzed imported second-hand clothing items were rewearable\, while 2.9–3.2% were classified as rags and 1.1 - 1.3% as textile waste. These findings add evidence to ongoing discussions on how to regulate tex tile waste while preserving the environmental and socioeconomic benefits o f reuse.The discussion will consider:the role of international trade in us ed textiles in advancing circular economy objectives\;the socioeconomic an d environmental implications of potential changes to the control status of textile waste\;the importance of clear definitions\, traceability and qua lity standards\;the need for policy solutions that are co-designed with de veloping countries and grounded in market realities\; and opportunities t o strengthen reuse\, repair\, recycling and environmentally sound manageme nt of residual textile waste. By bringing practical experience and new ev idence to the Basel Convention context\, the side event aims to support co nstructive discussions on waste minimization\, environmentally sound manag ement and the prevention of harmful transboundary movements\, while recogn izing the development role of well-managed second-hand clothing markets.  Programme TimetableTimeProgramme18:30WelcomeBianca Mannini\, Senior Policy Officer\, BIR18:35KeynoteDr. Chantal Line Carpentier\, Head of Trade\, En vironment\, Climate and Sustainable Development\, UNCTAD18:50PresentationM athias Gustavsson\, Senior Researcher\, IVL Swedish Environmental Research InstituteUsed textiles under the Basel Convention: implications for the K enyan mitumba market19:00Panel discussionJessica Franken\, Vice President\ , Government &\; External Affairs at the Secondary Materials and Recycl ed Textiles Association (SMART)Marlvin Owusu\, Executive Officer\, Ghana U sed Clothing Dealers'\; Association (GUCDA)Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal\, Ex- CEO\, Pakistan Textile CouncilTeresiah Wairimu Njenga\, Chairperson\, Mitu mba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK)19:30Close<\;p>\;Internation al trade in used textiles plays an important role in supporting textile ci rcularity by extending the life of garments\, reducing pressure on disposa l systems\, and supplying affordable clothing to consumers in many develop ing countries. At the same time\, concerns about textile waste\, pollution and limited waste-management capacity in some importing countries have br ought renewed attention to how used textiles and textile waste should be a ddressed under the Basel Convention.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;As Parties and observers consider the possible reframing of textile waste und er the Convention\, there is a need for evidence-based discussions that di stinguish clearly between reusable textiles\, recyclable materials and was te requiring environmentally sound management. This distinction is particu larly important for developing countries\, where second-hand clothing mark ets can support livelihoods\, affordable consumption\, repair and reuse sy stems\, while also requiring stronger approaches to residual waste and rec ycling.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;This side event\, organized by t he Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) in partnership with UN Trade an d Development (UNCTAD)\, will bring together experts and practitioners to discuss the trade\, environmental and development implications of potentia l regulatory changes affecting used textiles and textile waste. The sessio n will explore how policy frameworks can support circularity and waste pre vention while avoiding unintended impacts on functioning reuse and recycli ng systems.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The event will also mark the launch of a new technical report prepared under the Sustainable Manufactu ring and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme\, funded by the United K ingdom’s Foreign\, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented i n partnership with UNCTAD. The report\, “Trade in secondhand clothing: A nalysis of markets in Uganda\, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Uni ted States of America”\, provides new empirical evidence on upstream and downstream dynamics in the second-hand clothing value chain.&\;nbsp\;& lt\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Based on field research in Uganda and the United Rep ublic of Tanzania\, and analysis of the United States as an important sour ce market\, the report finds that around 96% of analyzed imported second-h and clothing items were rewearable\, while 2.9–3.2% were classified as r ags and 1.1 - 1.3% as textile waste. These findings add evidence to ongoin g discussions on how to regulate textile waste while preserving the enviro nmental and socioeconomic benefits of reuse.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The dis cussion will consider:<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li data-list-item-id=&q uot\;e32a66ac5527a5480e8b4c30de406162f\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttp s://unctad.org/meeting/used-textiles-practice-trade-impacts-and-developmen t-pathways DTSTAMP:20260716T203030Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR