Unveiled by the World Bank IFC Pilot Program
Results : Recycling textile waste in Morocco has strong economic and environmental potential. According to the World Bank Group, large-scale development of this sector could attract up to $1.9 billion in private investment and create more than 30,000 jobs. The results of the “Morocco Textile Circularity” pilot program, led by the IFC, demonstrated the technical and commercial feasibility of textile recycling, with recycled materials meeting market quality standards. In addition to reducing carbon emissions and water consumption, this transition could promote the integration of thousands of informal collectors into the formal economy. To realize this potential, several reforms are recommended, particularly in terms of regulation, traceability and the development of local industrial capacities.
The recycling of textile waste in Morocco today appears to be a major economic and industrial opportunity. According to the World Bank Group’s private sector diagnosis for Morocco, this activity is both technically viable and commercially profitable. Its large-scale deployment could mobilize up to $1.9 billion in additional private investment and generate more than 30,000 jobs across the Kingdom. These conclusions are based on the results of pilot projects carried out as part of the “Morocco Textile Circularity” program, led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The tests far exceeded the objectives set initially: 427 tonnes of textile scraps were transformed into new materials intended for production, while an additional 2,400 tonnes were sent to recycling channels. The recorded performances confirm the industrial potential of this approach.
Fabrics incorporating recycled materials met all commercial quality criteria tested, demonstrating their ability to re-enter supply chains without altering the quality or performance of finished products. Furthermore, a life cycle analysis reveals that the use of recycled materials reduces carbon emissions by around 18% and water consumption by more than 60% compared to conventional manufacturing processes. Beyond the environmental benefits, the socio-economic benefits could be considerable, particularly for workers at the base of the value chain. Today, more than 80% of textile waste collectors in Morocco operate in the informal sector. A study carried out as part of the program estimates that up to 75% of them could integrate the formal sector in the next five years thanks to appropriate institutional support. Such a development would help strengthen the foundations of the circular economy while providing better economic security for thousands of vulnerable workers.
For David Tinel, IFC regional representative for the Maghreb, “the development of textile circularity in Morocco will create tens of thousands of jobs and build a globally competitive industry.” He believes that the results obtained demonstrate that the Kingdom now has the necessary assets to position itself at the forefront of sustainable transformation serving international markets. To fully realize this potential, the program recommends several strategic reforms. Among them are the reclassification of industrial textile scraps as by-products rather than waste, the adaptation of the customs framework to allow international brands to transfer legal ownership of these materials to local manufacturers, the creation of a national traceability platform meeting future European requirements in terms of digital passport of products, as well as the strengthening of national spinning capacities to locally transform recycled fibers. The stakes are all the more important as the main international clients, particularly within the European Union, are increasing their requirements in terms of sustainability, traceability and the integration of recycled materials. The EU, which absorbs 93% of Moroccan textile exports, plans for the entry into force of the digital product passport from 2027. By this time, all Member States should also put in place mandatory extended producer responsibility schemes in the textile sector.
The “Morocco Textile Circularity” program brought together around the same table the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Customs Administration, AMDIE, AMITH, international brands, manufacturers, collectors and recyclers. This initiative constitutes the first structured multi-stakeholder platform of this type in the Moroccan textile industry. For the World Bank Group, this experience illustrates more than six decades of partnership with Morocco, based on the alignment of economic reforms, private investments and sustainable development ambitions, for the benefit of all Moroccan citizens.
