To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the development of an (a) industry-wide standard and (b) voluntary agreement for the collection, sorting, re-use and recycling of second hand clothing. (318517)

DEFRA has co-ordinated the sustainable clothing roadmap, a voluntary industry initiative to improve the environmental and ethical performance of clothing. One aim of the roadmap is to increase re-use and recycling, including consideration of issues around collection and sorting. In association with industry and stakeholders, we launched the first sustainable clothing action plan to implement this roadmap in 2009.

The clothing roadmap and supporting research are available on DEFRA’s website:

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/products/roadmaps/clothing/index.htm