Study Tracks Nordic Used Clothing Across 23 Countries
A six-month GPS study found most donated Nordic textiles stay in Europe, with some lower-grade items reaching Pakistan and Nigeria.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Fashion
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Eunomia Research & Consulting tracked 200 GPS-tagged used textiles collected in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden across 23 countries over six months. The report found 71% of tracked items stayed in Europe, while some lower-grade items travelled as far as Pakistan and Nigeria.
Why it matters
Limited European markets for used textiles mean large volumes of discarded clothing are exported for reuse, raising questions about where donated garments ultimately end up. The findings also challenge assumptions about widespread dumping in Africa, as the report found no evidence of widespread dumping, uncontrolled burning or environmental leakage there.
The study tracked 200 GPS trackers over six months, with 71% of items remaining in Europe. Many garments had not clearly reached a final destination by the end of the tracking period.
The players
Eunomia Research & Consulting
Eunomia Research & Consulting is a research and consultancy firm that conducts environmental policy analysis, and it produced the report tracking the textiles.
Mepex
Mepex is a Norwegian consultancy that supported the research behind the textile tracking study.
The details
Nordic countries export most used textiles unsorted, mainly to neighbouring European countries, because high labour costs make sorting at home uneconomical. Many garments passed through multiple countries and sorting hubs, with trackers often ending in warehouses, sorting facilities or transit locations, and items moving through Poland, Lithuania and Germany before being sent elsewhere for reuse.
Timeline
The GPS tracking followed donated textiles over a six-month period.
The Eunomia report was published on 9 November 2026.
Roadmap
The report recommends extended producer responsibility for textiles, a policy that would shift end-of-life costs onto producers. The findings add evidence that European markets for used clothing are too limited to absorb discarded garments domestically.
Donated clothing may be exported across several countries before reuse, so donating doesn't guarantee a garment stays local or is resold. Readers who donate can expect their items to pass through sorting hubs and reach markets far from where they were collected.
The takeaway
Donated clothing often travels far beyond the place it was collected, so buying fewer, longer-lasting garments may reduce the waste that moves through this system. Checking whether a donation program resells locally or exports items can help readers understand where their clothes end up.
Further reading
Explore more on Fashion to see how clothing donations and reuse shape the industry.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Letsrecycle.
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