Athletic Apparel Recycling Market Report 2026

The athletic apparel recycling market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.82 billion in 2025 to $4.34 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising textile waste from sportswear consumption, increasing environmental awareness among consumers, growth of athletic apparel industry, expansion of landfill waste regulations, early adoption of recycling initiatives by apparel brands.

The athletic apparel recycling market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.24 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing circular fashion economy adoption, increasing regulatory pressure on textile waste reduction, expansion of sustainable sportswear brands, rising innovation in fiber regeneration technologies, growing consumer preference for eco-friendly athletic apparel. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of textile-to-textile recycling systems for sportswear, growing use of chemical recycling for synthetic athletic fabrics, rising demand for sustainable branded sports apparel collection programs, expansion of online take-back and resale platforms for fitness clothing, increasing integration of automated sorting technologies in apparel recycling.

The increasing environmental awareness is anticipated to propel the growth of the athletic apparel recycling market going forward. Environmental awareness refers to the understanding of and concern for environmental issues that motivates individuals and communities to adopt sustainable and eco-friendly practices. The level of environmental awareness is rising due to enhanced media exposure and improved access to information, as widespread coverage of pollution, deforestation, and climate change continues to educate the public on environmental challenges and the importance of sustainable actions. Environmental awareness supports athletic apparel recycling by encouraging both consumers and brands to reduce waste, recycle used apparel, and choose sustainable materials, thereby contributing to greater participation in recycling initiatives and supporting the development of a circular economy within the athletic apparel industry. For instance, in November 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics, a UK-based government department, approximately 51% of adults identified climate change and environmental concerns as a significant issue. Therefore, the increasing environmental awareness is supporting the growth of the athletic apparel recycling market.

Leading companies operating in the athletic apparel recycling market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as textile-to-textile recycling platforms to convert used athletic apparel into new fibers and fabrics, thereby reducing waste and promoting circular fashion. A textile-to-textile recycling platform is a system or technology that processes discarded fabrics and transforms them into new fibers or materials, enabling the production of new garments while minimizing textile waste. For example, in February 2026, PrimaLoft Inc., a US-based company, launched ReRun, a textile-to-textile recycling platform that converts pre- and post-consumer textile waste into high-performance synthetic insulation for outdoor apparel and gear. Utilizing mechanical shredding for down-like blends, such as ThermoPlume with 30% recycled content, along with regenerative processing to produce virgin-grade PET, the platform preserves superior warmth and durability while supporting mono-material circularity for brands.

In December 2025, Promus Capital Management LLC, a US-based investment company, acquired Tersus Solutions LLC for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Promus Capital Management aims to expand its market reach, scale its environmentally sustainable CO₂-based cleaning and recommerce technology, and strengthen its position as a leader in circular economy solutions across multiple industries. Tersus Solutions LLC is a US-based technology company that offers athletic apparel recycling services.

Major companies operating in the athletic apparel recycling market are NIKE Inc., Industria de Diseño Textil S.A., Adidas AG, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) AB, VF Corporation, New Balance Athletics Inc., Lululemon Athletica Inc., ASICS Corporation, Patagonia Inc., Unifi Inc., Aquafil S.p.A., USAgain LLC, Decathlon S.A., Evrnu SPC, Girlfriend Collective LLC, REFLO Sportswear Ltd., Texaid AG, Syre AB, Ecocitex SpA, SOEX Group, Recover Textile Systems S.L.

North America was the largest region in the athletic apparel recycling market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the athletic apparel recycling market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the athletic apparel recycling market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The athletic apparel recycling market consists of sales of recycled fibers and yarns, PET bedding and toys, and upcycled fashion items. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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