Recycling old military uniforms is not as simple as it may seem. You have to deal with different types of fabrics, emblems and security risks. After all, you don’t want them to end up in the wrong hands. But simply burning them is also a waste. Countries have now developed their own strategies when it comes to processing discarded military uniforms. In this article, I’ll tell you all about it.
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Why old military uniforms cannot simply be recycled
Recycling military uniforms is much less straightforward than, for example, recycling workwear worn in hospitality or retail. The equipment worn by soldiers is much more complex. You have to deal with badges, rank insignia, emblems, special materials and often heavy-duty fabrics. This makes it more difficult to simply put the clothing through a shredder.
There is also the issue of security. When someone wears the workwear of a shop in public, it will have little impact. People will probably just assume that the person works at that particular shop. But as soon as someone wears a military uniform, it immediately creates a sense of authority. As a result, people are more likely to listen to that person. Wearing such a uniform when you do not hold that position is therefore not only illegal, but also dangerous.
That is why most governments are cautious when it comes to donating military uniforms. They often first investigate carefully what someone intends to do with them and what the purpose is. After all, they must not end up in the wrong hands.
United Kingdom uses old military uniforms for fashion
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence works with Ramco, a company specialising in the circular processing and reuse of textiles. Since December 2023, the company has processed around 16,000 tonnes of military textile waste.
To give this large amount of material a new life, the company works with Winchester School of Art, His Majesty’s Prison Service and veterans’ charities. The overall aim is to give the uniforms a new life through education, design and the empowerment of veterans. Students can learn how to turn the material into new garments, while veterans can develop new skills by making the clothing.
India uses old military uniforms for people in need
In India, the Sewaj Neesim Foundation, an NGO founded by retired army officers, collects old army uniforms. They are turned into useful items for people in need, with a particular focus on children and the elderly. Among other things, the uniforms are used to make blankets, school bags, face masks, aprons, bibs and jackets.
Many private initiatives involving old military uniforms in the United States
When it comes to recycling old military uniforms, there is a lot going on in the United States. There are countless initiatives, ranging from large organisations to small independent businesses, that are keen to give the old textiles a new life.
Celebrate Fatigues, for example, makes bags, wallets and glasses cases from old uniforms. The company has grown considerably and is now looking for a new owner.
But there are also independent makers such as Joann Galla from Oregon, who uses the uniforms to make Christmas ornaments. Families can hand in the old uniforms of their loved ones and receive a Christmas ornament made from the fabric, which they can hang in their tree during the festive season.
Singapore creates employment opportunities for women
In Singapore, the Ministry of Defence works with WEworkz, an organisation that creates employment opportunities for women. They turn old SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) uniforms into accessories, which are then sold.
In the video below, they show the process from the perspective of the uniform itself, which is quite amusingly put together.
The Netherlands gets creative with recycling old military uniforms
In the Netherlands, there are many different projects involving the reuse of military uniforms. During the NATO Summit in 2025, the Ministry of Defence had towels made from old textile, which were then handed out to everyone who helped organise the event.
Some of the clothing goes to companies with social workshops, such as Remade Industry, which then turn it into new products. There are also uniforms that are still good enough to be given a second life. Because of the war in Ukraine, the Netherlands has donated various uniforms in recent years, including through a collaboration with a prison. The prisoners were responsible for checking everything before it was sent.
Uniforms that are not good enough to be reused or turned into new clothing are shredded into fibres. These fibres are used for things such as building materials.
Australia makes children’s clothing from worn-out government uniforms
As in most countries, Australia also has various initiatives aimed at giving military uniforms a second life. One of them is Uniforms 4 Kids, an organisation that collects different types of uniforms. In addition to military clothing, they also process police uniforms, firefighting gear and uniforms worn by healthcare workers.
Volunteers use the old clothing to make children’s clothes. Each garment comes with a photo and a personal message from the person who wore the original uniform. The aim is to help children in need. At the same time, it gives them a positive impression of the emergency service workers who once wore the original clothing.
Since 2011, volunteers in Queensland and New South Wales have already transformed 73,000 uniforms into children’s clothing.
Families in the Philippines get opportunities in the labour market
In the Philippines, the Weave for Peace project was launched in 2025. It is a collaboration between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the BAYO Foundation, an advocate for circularity in the fashion industry.
The aim of the project is to give military families opportunities in the labour market through recycling. The old uniforms are shredded until only fibres remain. These are mixed with cotton to make them strong again. They are then turned into yarn, which is subsequently used for weaving. The weaving process is done by hand and does not require electricity, which is why it is considered a sustainable project.
Through Weave for Peace, family members can learn new skills and earn an income from the clothing they make.
The volume of military uniforms calls for creative projects
It is clear that most countries do not donate their uniforms to just one project or organisation, but to several. That is not surprising, because we are usually talking about large quantities of textiles. And not every organisation is able to process such volumes.
At the same time, this creates room for creativity and entrepreneurship. It is nice to see how old military uniforms can still be given a new life.
Greetings,
Aileen
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