Adidas, H&M, Inditex Launch Apparel Recovery Coalition
Four fashion brands are joining nonprofits to strengthen reuse, repair, recycling and upcycling of clothing, starting with a demonstration project in Accra, Ghana.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Fashion
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Adidas, H&M Group, Inditex and Bestseller have launched the Apparel Recovery Coalition with Ghana-based nonprofit The Or Foundation and circularity organisation Circle Economy. The coalition aims to strengthen the reuse, repair, recycling and upcycling of clothing, beginning with a first demonstration project in Accra, Ghana.
Why it matters
The coalition targets the large volumes of used clothing that flow into markets in countries receiving second-hand garments, where recirculation is already a major economic activity. The initiative builds on existing local efforts rather than starting from scratch.
Inditex reported using 705,554 tonnes of raw materials, up from 678,596 tonnes in 2024, while H&M Group produced 364,093 tonnes of products in 2025. Participating companies make voluntary financial contributions, and the coalition's contribution amounts have not been disclosed.
The players
Adidas
Adidas is a German multinational sportswear manufacturer and one of the founding members of the Apparel Recovery Coalition.
H&M Group
H&M Group is a Swedish multinational fashion retailer and a founding member of the Apparel Recovery Coalition.
Inditex
Inditex is the Spanish parent company of fashion retailers including Zara and a founding member of the Apparel Recovery Coalition.
Bestseller
Bestseller is a Danish fashion company and a founding member of the Apparel Recovery Coalition.
The Or Foundation
The Or Foundation is a Ghana-based nonprofit partnering with the coalition on its work in Accra.
The details
The coalition will begin with a demonstration project in Accra, Ghana, building on existing local initiatives in the Kantamanto Market area, which recirculates an estimated 25 million garments each month. Over two years, the coalition plans to develop and test a business model based on Extended Producer Responsibility, with a second project planned in another country that receives large volumes of second-hand clothing.
Timeline
2024: Inditex used 678,596 tonnes of raw materials.
2025: H&M Group produced 364,093 tonnes of products.
October 15, 2026: The Apparel Recovery Coalition launch was reported.
Over the next two years: The coalition plans to develop and test its Extended Producer Responsibility model.
Culture Shift
The coalition's planned use of Extended Producer Responsibility extends a policy approach long applied to packaging and electronics into apparel, a sector whose used-clothing exports have grown into a major secondary economy in West Africa. Its effort to make brands accountable for garments after sale reflects a broader move away from treating second-hand clothing as waste that others must absorb.
Consumers who buy from the participating brands may eventually see more take-back, repair and resale options as the coalition's Extended Producer Responsibility model is tested. The initiative's effects on garment prices or availability have not yet been announced.
The takeaway
Clothing that leaves a brand's hands does not end its environmental footprint, and the coalition's model is an attempt to keep brands responsible for what happens next. Readers buying fashion can look for brands that publicly disclose take-back or repair programs.
Further reading
Explore more Fashion coverage for context on how brands are rethinking apparel production and disposal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Textileexcellence.
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