Transforming the Textile Value Chain: A Webinar Series

The aim is to share practical and actionable results for companies preparing for upcoming EU legislation or looking to implement new circular and digital practices.

Webinar #1: Mapping Data Behind Waste – Your Guide to Using Post-Consumer Waste as Raw Material for the Future of Textiles

Did you know that the EU generated an estimated 10 million tonnes of textile waste in 2023? Consumers accounted for approximately 85% of this waste. Despite a quarter of this waste being collected separately for reuse and simpler recycling, almost none is used as raw material for new garments. This represents a significant untapped resource.

Waste is a resource without identity. By mapping the data behind waste, we can determine its potential as secondary raw material for new textiles and applications. This data also holds the key to understanding how we can replace virgin materials with post-consumer textile waste.

In this webinar, we present research findings from two projects: CISUTAC and the Framework for Circular Textiles.

CISUTAC’s decision-making tool guides the industry on which post-consumer waste can currently be recycled fibre-to-fibre and identifies the parameters necessary to increase clothing recycling rates in the future.

The Framework for Circular Textiles supports the industry by demonstrating how post-consumer waste can be categorised to ensure reliable material properties, enable design for recycling, identify suitable applications, and assist companies in testing post-consumer waste as a new raw material.

By classifying waste, we gain deeper insight into various fibres, material compositions, chemicals, dyeing methods, and recycling techniques—highlighting both the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a circular textile industry.