Every year, Australia imports about 1.4 billion new clothing items.
And, by the end of 2025, more than 200,000 tonnes of these clothes end up in landfill, a weight equivalent to four Sydney Harbour Bridges.
The average Australian purchases 56 items annually, making them the largest clothing consumers per capita, a title once held by the United States.
On top of this, an extra 105,000 tonnes of used textiles are exported overseas, much of it arriving in developing nations in a practice that has been dubbed “waste colonialism”.
In the midst of this global crisis, a local not-for-profit social enterprise is taking action by reshaping the way individuals and communities think about waste and sustainability.
The Full Circle Collective, formerly The Purple Card Project, was founded by three passionate people with a single goal: to leave the world better than they found it.
During the COVID pandemic, Siobhan, Bianca and Jack felt overwhelmed and powerless by the effects of climate change.
They knew they couldn’t solve a catastrophe on their own but believed they could start small in their own community.
What initially began as a crowdfunding clean up event has grown into the initiatives they run today.
Working alongside local businesses, schools and groups, the trio takes part in programs, runs events, and provides educational and support services that help communities take small steps toward a more sustainable future.
“We like to operate in the sphere of our control,” Bianca said.
“That means working directly with our community, bringing people together, and making an impact that way.
“We think a lot about the ripple effects we’re creating.
“It doesn’t need to be a big grand gesture.
“Sometimes, it’s just quietly cleaning and, hopefully, people see it and think ‘maybe I could do that too’.”
Their Hunter Street shop hosts a weekly Repair Café on Saturdays with support from Port of Newcastle’s community grants program.
People can bring toys, clothing or small furniture to be fixed while repairers share their skills and knowledge.
Visitors are also able to browse products from more than 50 local suppliers, enjoy a pot of ethically-sourced tea, and refill household cleaning and laundry supplies while visiting the welcoming space.
Beyond its Hunter Street hub, The Full Circle Collective has helped bring life back into Wallsend by establishing the Op Shop Trail as a key tourist destination.
The initiative highlights the social and environmental benefits of second-hand shopping while providing volunteer opportunities in the community.
“Textile recovery is a huge focus of what we do,” said Bianca.
“Everyone wears clothes and interacts with textiles every day.
“We don’t have a choice about that, but we do have a choice about where we get our clothes, how we look after them, and what we do with them at the end of their life.”
Building on its projects, The Full Circle Collective is bringing clothes swap events to the University of Newcastle this September at both Callaghan and the City Campus (NUspace).
Participants can bring gently-used clothing and accessory items in exchange for tokens to trade for new-to-them items.
Visitors may also hear from local sustainability, fashion and textiles experts to get practical tips on making sustainable choices.
“We’re probably not going to stop climate change,” Bianca said.
“But, we can create small effects in our own communities.
“Hopefully, it sends a message up the chain that this is important and that action is needed.”
- University of Newcastle journalism student Kaitlin Dykstra
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- NRL legend Wayne Pearce kits up for Sleapy’s Foundation fundraiser
- PCYC Singleton celebrates rich 60-year history
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