LONDON: Football shirt waste is facing renewed scrutiny after UEFA estimated that 60% of teamwear apparel may be destroyed at season’s end, as clubs and manufacturers test longer kit cycles and recycling.
UEFA’s Circular Economy Guidelines say outdated sponsorships and excess stock contribute to the destruction of unsold apparel.
The governing body says new rules could push clubs toward longer sponsorship deals, discounted sales, donations and multi-season shirts.
The issue gained fresh attention after textile sustainability specialist Joanna Czutkowna compared how different garments break down.
She buried a Manchester United polyester shirt, a cotton T-shirt and a wool-cotton jumper for a year. The football shirt remained largely intact, while the other garments decomposed substantially.
Czutkowna also questioned football’s annual shirt cycle. She told The Guardian that many shirts rise in price before clubs heavily discount them only months later, shortening their commercial life even further.
Brentford FC has already adopted a different model. Its 2026-28 home shirt will remain in use for two seasons, while the club has frozen replica prices across the cycle.
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Brentford said the approach supports both affordability and sustainability. Manufacturers are also changing how they source polyester.
Puma’s RE programmer turns textile waste and used polyester garments into new material, rather than relying mainly on recycled plastic bottles. Puma said the programme covered more than nine million items in 2025.
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The company now uses RE across replica shirts for dozens of football clubs and federations. Its take-back programme also accepts used clothing for possible recycling into new polyester products.
