PRESS RELEASE
Prague launches a revolution in clothes sorting: new oblecprahu.cz portal and exclusive data on Prague residents’ habits
Prague, May 13, 2025 – The non-profit organization Clothing bank in cooperation with the Deputy Mayor of the capital city of Prague. Jana Komrsková and the Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík officially presented the new project oblecprahu.cz. This unique portal aims to motivate the inhabitants of the metropolis to effectively sort and recycle textiles and at the same time to strengthen the principles of the circular economy in the capital.
The project also included the presentation of the results of an exclusive STEM survey, which mapped how Prague residents manage their wardrobe. What did the data show?
- About 46% of Prague residents buy only new clothes and do not use the option of buying second-hand, which is one of the important elements of the circular economy.
- Prague residents usually sort their wardrobe once a year or less frequently, which shows potential for improvement.
- People living in Prague most often part with clothes that are already worn out (55%), but this is also because they cannot wear them or because they are not the right size.
- The majority of Prague residents (68%) put their discarded clothes in a textile container, while less than a quarter donate them to someone in their neighbourhood. Only 17% donate it directly to a charity.
- 14% of Prague residents throw their clothes in mixed waste, most often on the grounds thay are no longer wearable, torn or otherwise damaged.
- 81% say they are concerned about proper disposal of clothes so that they can be recycled or otherwise reused. Three tenths of Prague residents also expressed interest in learning more about this issue, and the same number would lt theike to see better access to collection points.
According to Deputy Minister Jana Komrsková, the project is another step to bring sustainability closer to the everyday lives of Prague’s citizens: “We know that textiles make up approximately two percent of waste in Prague’s garbage bins. This is thousands of tons of textiles that can still serve others. That’s why I am a big fan of the Clothes Prague project, which goes hand in hand with our waste prevention efforts. We want to be a city that inspires others to manage textiles efficiently. We want the circular economy to become a natural part of the lives of Prague’s citizens.”
Environment Minister Petr Hladík stressed the importance of cooperation between the non-profit sector, local government and the state: “Joint initiatives like this are key to promoting textile circularity and meeting the goals of the circular economy. We throw away thousands of tonnes of clothes every year. The Clothes Prague project is a great activity that shows us that old things don’t have to end up in the trash or in a landfill, but like 68% of the Prague population, we can put them in textile collection containers, giving the discarded pieces a second life and helping someone else. It is also important to think about the way we acquire new clothes, which we can get not only by buying them in shops, but also by swapping them or buying them in second hand shops. More than half of Prague residents already take this approach into account. The aim of the Ministry of the Environment is not only to reduce the total amount of textile waste, but also to increase the recycling rate. The new oblecprahu.cz website shows how to dispose of textiles correctly – clearly and practically for everyone. Bringing together the city, state, businesses and non-profits in this project is a great example of how good things can be done together. And I hope this approach will soon spread to other cities and towns across the country.”
“Thanks to the oblecprahu.cz portal, we want to show people that sorting clothes is not only about ecology, but also about helping others and smart use of resources,” said Dana Pavlousková, director of the Clothing Bank, at the launch. The portal was created not only by the Clothing Bank, but also thanks to the significant support of the Prague City Hall, which granted the Oblečprahu.cz project the patronage of Deputy Mayor Jana Komrsková. The Municipality also significantly supported the event held on 13 May by renting the premises free of charge, which enabled this important event to take place in a friendly and accessible environment. The Clothing Bank greatly appreciates this support and thanks for the trust and partnership in promoting the principles of sustainability and circular economy in the capital.
The support of the private sector in the form of JT International, the main sponsor of the project, was also important for the implementation of the project. “Supporting the circular economy and responsible resource management is a long-standing part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. We see the oblecprahu.cz project as a great example of combining innovation, sustainability and concrete help to the community. We are proud to be part of this initiative that contributes to a better future for Prague and its inhabitants.” adds Eva Prokešová, Communications and CSR Manager CzHuSk, JTI. The project thus connects the state, the city, companies and non-profit organizations in the fight against waste and unnecessary waste in the textile sector.
Full version of the STEM survey: https://oblecprahu.cz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Odevni-banka_zprava.pdf
Clothing bank z.s. is a non-profit organization that has been linking the principles of sustainability with concrete help for people in need since 2022. It specializes in collecting, sorting and distributing used clothing that it receives from the public, companies and institutions. In addition to its ecological dimension, it plays a key role in the social sphere – each year it provides thousands of crisis clothing packages to single parents, the elderly, homeless people or families in a difficult financial situation.
Dana Pavlousková
Director
We give clothing a new life, helping those in need.
