Opinion: Can textile waste become a viable business in Africa?

From the newsletter

As Africa pursues value recovery from its waste, biotechnology researcher Iuliia Golovina sees the 5.8 million tonnes of textile waste generated annually across sub-Saharan Africa as a business opportunity. She argues that discarded textiles could provide feedstock for acoustic panels targeting the region’s construction market.

• “A more realistic entry point is a narrow business-to-business segment: interior designers fitting out offices, hospitality operators seeking quieter shared spaces, schools improving learning environments, and contractors installing decorative wall treatments,” she says.

• Ms Golovina is a biotechnology researcher at Russia’s Ufa University of Science and Technology and an independent author exploring circular biotechnology, textile waste valorisation and the recovery of valuable compounds from citrus and coniferous biomass. Her interest in Africa centres on developing locally relevant technologies that turn underused resources into higher-value materials while supporting local enterprise.

More details