A new status report from NORSUS reveals that online purchases of textiles rose sharply between 2024 and 2025, driven by platforms such as Temu and Shein. At the same time, more than 44,000 tonnes of textiles were discarded in general household waste by Norwegian consumers. Never have Norwegians thrown away so many clothes.
In 2025, a total of 87,531 tonnes of new textiles were placed on the Norwegian market (within the product categories covered by the forthcoming textile EPR scheme). This corresponds to 15.6 kilograms per capita. Clothing and footwear accounted for the largest share of the volume, while household textiles represented approximately 16 percent.
Looking at the period between 2022 and 2025, textile volumes peaked in 2022 but have remained relatively stable in recent years.
However, when e-commerce directly to consumer is included, the volume increases significantly. This channel alone accounted for nearly 14,000 tonnes in 2025.
Imports of textiles through e-commerce increased by 263 percent between 2024 and 2025. Platforms such as Temu, Shein and Zalando are identified as key drivers.
According to PostNord's E-Commerce Report 2025, clothing and footwear are by far the most purchased product category when Norwegians shop online from foreign retailers. Chinese marketplace Temu is now the most widely used online marketplace among Norwegian consumers.
This demonstrates that cross-border e-commerce has become a significant component of Norway's textile flows and will be an increasingly important factor in the future textile EPR system.
"This year's update contains several new elements. E-commerce has been included in the analysis for the first time and, although the figures remain uncertain, they clearly show that this represents a significant share of the market and an area that should be monitored more closely going forward" says Irmeline de Sadeleer, Research Director at NORSUS.
Despite the requirement for separate textile collection that came into effect on 1 January 2025, the report estimates that 44,405 tonnes of textiles were disposed of in residual waste in 2025 and subsequently sent to energy recovery.
Waste Composition Analyses Show That:
These findings point to substantial untapped potential within the current system.
For the first time, the report presents consolidated national figures for textile recycling in Norway.
“We still see significant challenges in obtaining reliable and comparable data. A considerable amount of information exists, but it is not always complete, and collecting and verifying the figures takes time,” says de Sadeleer.
Norway currently has only one textile recycling facility, located in Sandefjord. In 2025, a total of 364 tonnes of textiles were recycled domestically.
“At the same time, we are seeing the emergence of new Norwegian sorting and recycling companies, including Norsk Tekstilgjenvinning, Norwegian Re:Textile, and other initiatives,” says de Sadeleer.
Only around 2 percent of textiles placed on the market were reused within Norway in 2025.
The report also points out that actual reuse levels are likely higher than the official figures indicate, as a substantial proportion of second-hand trading takes place outside formal statistics, including through platforms such as Finn, Tise, flea markets, and private exchanges.
The majority (85 percent) of collected used textiles are exported. This highlights how limited the domestic market for textile reuse remains compared with the volume of new purchases, despite growing interest in second-hand consumption.
In total, 34,331 tonnes of used textiles and textile waste were exported in 2025.
The report also identifies considerable uncertainty regarding what ultimately happens to these textiles after export, partly because current customs codes and reporting systems do not provide sufficiently detailed information.
An extended producer responsibility scheme for textiles will enter into force in Norway on 1 January 2027. The new framework will affect the entire value chain, from product design and manufacturing to collection and end-of-life management.
The scheme will introduce requirements relating to:
It is also expected to contribute to improved data quality and more accurate reporting in the future.
“The goal is to develop systems that make it easier for producers, importers, and brands to comply with the requirements of the upcoming legislation. Videre Tekstil is also working from a Nordic perspective, with the ambition of creating harmonised solutions across the region,” says Siv Elin Ånestad, Senior Advisor for Circular Economy at NORSIRK.
The findings were presented during a webinar on 13 May, organised by Videre Tekstil AS, NORSUS, NORSIRK, and NF&TA.
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The report, "2026 Status Report on Textiles and Textile Waste in Norway", was prepared by NORSUS on behalf of Videre Tekstil AS and NORSIRK, in collaboration with NF&TA.
It provides an updated fact base on:
The report highlights key challenges and opportunities in the transition towards a more circular textile economy and provides valuable insight into how textile flows actually function in Norway today.
It also serves as an important knowledge base for the development of Norway's textile EPR scheme, which will take effect on 1 January 2027.
