Speaking to Global Sustainable Sport, Joanna Czutkowna, CEO of 5THREAD, described the challenge as one that many organisations recognise but few have yet been able to address systematically.

Against this backdrop, the launch of the Sustainable Sports Apparel Charter on International Day of Zero Waste marks a significant step forward—providing the first verified, sector-led framework designed to tackle overproduction, underuse and disposal in sport.

A Framework Built by Sport, for Sport

The Charter has been developed through 18 months of collaboration across the sports ecosystem, bringing together organisations including the Royal Yachting Association, British Triathlon, British Gymnastics and ParalympicsGB.

It responds directly to evidence from a UK Sport baseline study, which found that eight high-performance organisations procured more than 88,000 items of apparel in a single year, with contingency ordering reaching as high as 30%.

At its core, the Charter is built around seven focus areas and 15 practical commitments, designed to be implemented within two years through largely low- or no-cost operational changes.

Czutkowna explained the intent behind the framework: “This Charter provides the structure and support needed to move from intention to implementation, helping organisations make a real and lasting difference.”

She also emphasised the importance of a collaborative and solutions-focused approach:

“We don’t want to blame anybody for this problem… the problem is there. How do we work together to solve it?”

From Commitment to Action

Unlike broader sustainability pledges, the Charter is designed as a verified pathway, requiring organisations to demonstrate progress through regular check-ins and structured review.

The emphasis is on actionable change—embedding sustainability into procurement, extending product lifecycles, improving supplier engagement, and enabling reuse and redistribution of kit.

This reflects a wider shift in the sector, where the focus is moving from ambition to implementation—and from isolated initiatives to system-level change.

Early Signatories Signal Cross-Sport Momentum

A number of leading organisations have already signed the Charter, including the Royal Yachting Association and British Triathlon, highlighting early momentum across different sports.

Kate Fortnam, Sustainability Manager at the RYA, highlighted both progress and the need for continued learning:

“We’re proud to strengthen our commitment to reducing clothing waste by joining the Sustainable Sports Apparel Charter. It has also been a privilege to collaborate with colleagues from other leading sporting organisations and NGBs… we recognise that there is still much more to learn.”

At British Triathlon, the Charter is seen as an opportunity to both act and influence:

“We’re proud to strengthen our commitment to reducing clothing waste… We look forward to continuing this journey and sharing our insights with the wider triathlon community,” said Eve Joseph, Head of Sustainability at British Triathlon.

Beyond Environment: Tackling Participation Barriers

While the environmental case is clear, the Charter also addresses a critical but often overlooked issue: access to sport.

Research shows that 87% of families experience financial pressure linked to sports apparel, with lack of appropriate kit acting as a barrier to participation.

By embedding reuse, redistribution and repurposing into procurement and operational planning, the Charter enables surplus kit to be redirected into communities rather than wasted—reducing costs and improving inclusion.

Czutkowna highlighted the broader significance of this shift:

“A lot of organisations are already doing great things… but they don’t always talk about it publicly. This is about creating a space where that work can be shared and built upon.”

She also pointed to the importance of starting with practical, achievable steps:

“What is free and what is the most low-cost thing that you can do? Start somewhere.”

This positions apparel not just as an environmental issue, but as a Participation and People challenge, directly linked to accessibility and equity in sport.

A Defining Moment for Circularity in Sport

The launch of the Sustainable Sports Apparel Charter represents a significant step towards embedding circular economy principles within sport.

It provides a structured, practical framework that aligns environmental responsibility with operational reality—an area where sport has historically struggled to make progress.

“The situation is not black and white… have you tried your best within reasonable depth? Progress is better than perfection.”

She believes collaboration will be key to scaling impact across the sector:

“If you want to make a change, we’re here to help… this is about working together to solve a shared problem.”

For a sector still in the early stages of addressing apparel waste, the real test will be adoption and transparency.

But if sport can come together around shared standards on something as complex—and commercially sensitive—as kit, this could mark a defining moment in how the industry approaches sustainability.