Peru second-hand clothing imports linked to illicit trade

A study conducted by the Observatorio de Lucha contra el Comercio Ilícito, the Sociedad Nacional de Industrias (SNI), and the Instituto de Criminología has identified that much of the second-hand clothing entering Peru is linked to illicit trafficking, document fraud, corruption, and illegal commercialization.

The research outlines a complex supply chain consisting of 11 links, 32 activities, and 88 tasks that connect discarded clothing from developed nations to the Peruvian market. While second-hand fashion is often marketed as a sustainable circular economy solution, the study suggests a significant portion of these goods enter through irregular border routes, including from Chile via Tacna and from Bolivia via Desaguadero.

Globally, the textile market has doubled production due to fast fashion, with an estimated 87% of production being incinerated or sent to landfills. In South America, while Chile legally imports approximately 136,095 tons of second-hand garments annually, roughly 70% of those items are discarded in the Atacama Desert, with the remainder often being moved to other countries like Peru.