In the Atacama Desert of Chile, mounds of second-hand clothing create an environmental crisis. With 123,000 tonnes of used clothing imported annually, the Chilean government has prioritized textiles in a new environmental responsibility law. This law will hold importers accountable for waste and work towards eradicating textile dumps in the desert. Additional regulations promoting a circular economy are anticipated, aiming to foster a more sustainable consumer culture in Chile, where over 90% of sold textiles are imported.
As the sea mist drifts over a high coastal plateau above the city of Iquique in Chile's far north, the breeze rustles plastic bags bursting with second-hand clothing.
Chile's government has taken a decisive step towards addressing the environmental crisis which has beset the Atacama Desert, announcing textiles as a priority under its responsibility law.
According to government data, more than 90% of textiles sold in Chile are imported, making the South American country the world's fourth-largest importer of second-hand clothing.
One of its goals will be to eradicate textile dumps in the Atacama Desert, aiming for a new consumer culture that emphasizes circular economy practices.
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