Pursuing Zero Waste in the South African Textile Industry: A Case Study of SMME-Scaled Needle Felting Technology

Textile waste has become a pressing issue in Africa, exacerbated by the influx of second-hand donated clothing from more developed economies. This, combined with rising apparel consumption among middle-class consumer segments in countries like South Africa, has created a significant textile waste problem. The implications are far-reaching, necessitating the implementation of circular economy principles and textile recycling interventions with a zero-waste approach to avert further detrimental consequences. Moreover, South Africa’s high unemployment rates underscore the critical need for entrepreneurial initiatives in the local context. While existing recycling technology is often prohibitively expensive and capital-intensive, alternative solutions tailored to SMMEs and start-up entrepreneurs could provide a promising path to a sustainable future for the South African textile industry. This chapter delves into the socio-economic and environmental implications of pre- and post-consumer textile waste in the African context. It also highlights some promising entrepreneurial opportunities in the South African emerging market context, offering a viable solution to these waste issues and a means to generate much-needed employment in the local textile industry. The chapter concludes with a compelling case study of SMME-Scaled Needle Felting Technology, a method traditionally used for artisanal wool felting but, in this instance, applied to blended textile waste fibers.