Eco-friendly pilgrimage: Saudi introduces recycled Ihram initiative to promote sustainability

With the arrival of the Month of blessings, Ramadan, and millions of Muslims from around the world performing Umrah, a central garment for male worshippers, the Ihram, continues to symbolise purity, unity and devotion. 

The simple white garment, composed of two pieces of unstitched cloth, is a vital part of the Umrah and Hajj experience.

In a move to promote sustainability, the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission has introduced its Sustainable Ihram initiative. This project focuses on recycling and repurposing used Ihrams, combining sacred Islamic traditions with eco-friendly solutions aimed at protecting the planet, media reported on Sunday.

Under the initiative, used Ihrams are collected and transformed into new, sustainable garments through a circular textile recycling process. This innovative effort is a collaboration between the Saudi Investment Recycling Co. and eco-fashion company Tadweem.

The programme aims to raise consumer awareness of fashion recycling while supporting the development of a circular textile economy within Saudi Arabia.

Recognising the environmental impact of discarded ihrams, which are produced in large volumes for the annual pilgrimage, the Fashion Commission has identified an opportunity to reduce textile waste.

Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, told “Ihram is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fashion, but at the same time, it’s a product that is sold and used in volumes, repeated every year, especially during Hajj.”

To make this initiative possible, 336 collection bins were installed in Mina, where several tonnes of used Ihrams were collected. These garments underwent a meticulous recycling process, which included sorting, cleaning, shredding, and reweaving, ultimately creating new ihrams for pilgrims to wear with a deeper sense of purpose.

“There is no better way to do this than for your religious pilgrimage, where you want to focus on spirituality and ensure that the product you wear represents purity in both body and mind,” Cakmak added.

Mustafa Bukhari, CEO of Tadweem, explained that while manufacturing currently occurs outside Saudi Arabia, the long-term goal is to bring production into the Kingdom. Tadweem, a Saudi eco-friendly company, focuses on sustainability in fashion through initiatives such as textile recycling.

For this project, the collected ihrams were converted into raw materials in Dubai, sent to Turkey for manufacturing, and then returned to Saudi Arabia.

“The entire product is made from recycled materials, including the packaging and bags used, with no environmentally harmful substances,” said Bukhari. “We used recycled cotton for both the ihrams and the packaging bags, ensuring the environmental sustainability of the entire product.”

At the Jeddah Hajj and Umrah conference in January, Tadweem demonstrated how the fabric from recycled ihrams was incorporated into high-quality leather bags.

Priced at SR98 ($25.98), the sustainable ihrams are now available in Madinah, with plans to expand distribution to Makkah, major airports, and other regions in the future. They will also be sold in a dedicated store for sustainable ihrams and at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, running until May 25.

Cakmak emphasised: “The hope is that we are highlighting the importance of sustainability not just through art and creativity, but through everyday products that people can adopt. This is about offering a conscious choice, aligning the spiritual journey with sustainability.”