Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. Approximately 83.5 million tonnes of waste is produced annually around the world. This waste diversion/upcycling project aims to prevent close to 2 tonnes of textile materials from going into Gabriola’s landfill each month.
The Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) is building a textile recovery and manufacturing facility to create new products from old clothing and other textiles.
The facility will function as a social enterprise: offering local entrepreneurs access to workshop and maker spaces; textile shredding, sewing and weaving machines; and business development supports including mentorship and peer learning.
This circular economy initiative will provide a steady supply of materials ready for transformation into functional and creative upcycled products. Community members will be able to drop off textiles no longer in use.
Textile recovery and re-use represents an innovative way to diversify the local economy and support small scale entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities.
Island Coastal Economic Trust approved funding for this project in 2021 through the Capital and Innovation program.
We work in reciprocal relationships with coastal communities across the ancestral territories of the Kwak̓wala, Nuučaan̓uɫ, Éy7á7juuthem, Ligwilda'xw, Pəntl'áč, She shashishalhem, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Hul’q’umi’num’, diitiidʔaatx̣, SENĆOŦEN, Lekwungen, and T’Sou-ke speaking peoples.
