In 2024, Argentina received more than 4.6 million kilos of imported used clothing, an explosive increase of 19,000% year-on-year that raised environmental alarms.
Therefore, the Fundación Pro Tejer launched a massive campaign to reinstate the ban that was in place until 2022 on importing used clothing.
The goal is to prevent the country from becoming a destination for global fast fashion waste, with a direct impact on waste management and the ecosystem.
The initiative, driven through the Change.org platform under the name NoEsRopaEsBasura, collects signatures to demand the Government for the immediate ban on imported used clothing.
Those promoting the campaign warn that Argentina risks replicating devastating scenarios seen in the region, such as the textile dumps in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
From sanitary control to commercial boom: how imported used clothing is managed in Argentina
Historically, the importation of used clothing was restricted in the country for reasons of public health, hygiene, and protection of the national industry.
In 2010, Decree 2112 established the total ban, ratified in 2017 by Decree 333 with validity until May 2022.
With the non-renewal of this regulation, the entry of imported used clothing was once again enabled.
And, although during 2022 and 2023 imports were marginal, growth accelerated exponentially from 2024.
According to the entity, the 4.6 million kilos entered that year are equivalent to between 10 and 15 million garments.
Although since December 2024 the Government requires a disinfection certificate to import used clothing, Pro Tejer considers the measure clearly insufficient.
The environmental and sanitary risks of imported used clothing
“The massive importation of used clothing is not circular economy nor access to consumption: it is disposal of fast fashion surpluses from developed countries,” warned Fundación Pro Tejer.
It should be noted that a large part of these garments is composed of synthetic fibers that cannot be recycled.
These fabrics of the imported used clothing take decades to degrade and release microplastics that contaminate soils and watercourses.
Faced with this problem, Argentina lacks adequate infrastructure to manage such a volume of textile waste.
The sanitary risks are also not controlled. Garments from fast fashion may carry fungi, bacteria, parasites, and chemical residues.
Today, the composition of the imported clothing is not verified, nor is there a guarantee of traceability regarding its origin, previous use, or storage conditions.
The impact on the local industry
The petition emphasizes that reinstating the ban against fast fashion is not a protectionist measure, but a responsible decision.
Today, the Argentine textile production chain generates more than 500,000 jobs that are at risk.
The critical points listed by the campaign include:
- Environmental pollution: non-recyclable synthetic fibers that release microplastics
- Sanitary risks: presence of fungi, bacteria, and dangerous chemicals without control
- Lack of traceability: no verification of origin or storage conditions
- Labor impact: direct effect on more than 500,000 jobs in the textile sector
- Absence of infrastructure: the country cannot manage these volumes of waste
Fundación Pro Tejer emphasized that the debate goes beyond commercial aspects and compromises the country’s environmental, sanitary, and labor future.
The campaign seeks to put on the legislative agenda the immediate reinstatement of the ban on imported used clothing that protected the country for more than a decade.
