Driving Textile Recycling Through Innovation
Fashion for Good, a Netherlands-based global innovation platform, has launched the Sorting for Circularity Project to revolutionize textile recycling. Recognizing the ever-increasing volume of discarded textiles and the limitations of current sorting methods, this initiative aims to create a more efficient and scalable solution.
The Challenge: Inefficient Textile Sorting
The amount of textile waste is growing rapidly. While some is reused, a significant portion is destined for recycling. However, accurately determining the material composition of these textiles is crucial for effective recycling. Current manual sorting systems struggle with this due to unreliable or missing clothing labels, hindering progress towards a circular economy.
The Solution: Sorting for Circularity
Fashion for Good's project addresses this challenge head-on. By bringing together leading brands and industry experts across Europe, the project will conduct a comprehensive analysis of textile waste using advanced Near Infrared (NIR) technology. This analysis will provide more accurate data on material composition, enabling better matching of textile waste with appropriate recyclers.
Building a Circular Ecosystem
The project's ultimate goal is to develop an open digital platform that connects textile sorters and recyclers. This platform will facilitate the efficient flow of materials, creating new revenue streams for sorters and stimulating a robust recycling market. This will shift the industry away from downcycling, incineration, and landfilling towards a truly circular system.
Collaboration for Impact
The Sorting for Circularity Project is a collaborative effort, with funding from Laudes Foundation and participation from major brands like Adidas, BESTSELLER, Zalando, and Inditex. Key partners like Circle Economy and Refashion contribute their expertise in textile waste analysis and methodology. Leading textile sorters, including Boer Group, I:CO, JMP Wilcox, and TEXAID, are also central to the project's success. Refashion's involvement ensures alignment with French EPR initiatives, promoting standardization and scalability.
Learn More
Visit the Fashion for Good website to learn more about this project and their other initiatives.