Accra is set to host a major global summit on textile waste and sustainability, as Landfills2Landmarks 2026 brings together key stakeholders to advance accountability in the imported used clothing sector.
The summit, scheduled to take place from May 18 to 22, 2026, at Labadi Beach Hotel, follows a high-level pre-summit webinar that attracted participants from over 20 countries. The virtual engagement helped shape the strategic direction and policy focus for the upcoming gathering.
The webinar, themed “Regulating the Imported Used Clothing Economy: Ghana’s Enforcement Pathway, Cross-Border Responsibility, and Funding End-of-Life Outcomes,” convened experts from across regulatory, trade, and industry spaces. Discussions centred on how countries like Ghana can transition from recurring concerns about textile waste to stronger systems of classification, traceability, accountability, and sustainable financing.
Key institutions contributing to the dialogue included the Environmental Protection Authority, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Ghana Standards Authority, and the United Nations Environment Programme, alongside international industry players and local stakeholders.
Organisers say the summit will serve as a practical platform to drive policy clarity, strengthen trade integrity, and promote circular solutions within the global textile value chain. It will bring together public authorities, customs officials, brands, exporters, importers, recyclers, investors, and community actors to deliberate on sustainable pathways for managing textile flows.
Structured around the theme “Trace, Account, Rebuild,” the week-long event will feature bilateral meetings, town hall sessions, plenary discussions, and a Global Roundtable. A Circular Investment Forum is also expected to explore funding opportunities for sustainable infrastructure in textile waste management.
Participants will further engage in innovative sessions such as Live Bale Labs, showcasing emerging tools like the Bale Index, designed to improve visibility and accountability across post-export textile flows.
The summit will also include an iconic fashion showcase celebrating GTP at 60, highlighting the intersection of sustainability and local textile heritage.
Organisers emphasise that the conversation has shifted beyond raising concerns to implementing practical solutions, with a strong focus on enforcement, standards, and financing mechanisms that reflect the true cost of managing textile waste in receiving markets.
