ACT on the “Suited” Podcast: From Policy to Practice in Global EPR

Africa Collect Textiles is featured in an episode of Suited with Kenya Wiley, a podcast that brings together policy, business, and industry leaders shaping the future of sustainable fashion.

In this episode From Policy to Practice: Global EPR for Textiles, Sarah Njau from Green Forest Solutions and Elmar Stroomer, founder of ACT, discuss how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are developing worldwide and what it takes to turn policy into real infrastructure on the ground.

The conversation looks at Kenya’s unique position as both a textile producer and the largest importer of second-hand clothing in Africa. With two major waste streams — local manufacturing offcuts and unsellable second-hand imports — the episode explores the practical challenges of building systems for collection, sorting, and recycling.

Together, Sarah and Elmar reflect on questions that shape the future of circular fashion:

• When does second-hand clothing become textile waste?
• How can brands support the recovery systems in the regions most affected?
• What needs to happen for EPR to fund real change, not just policy?