Integrating recycled fibres

Introduction

The aim: To reduce the use of virgin materials in the production of clothing.

The expected outcome: Saving water, energy and less clothing going to landfill and incineration.

Nine companies, from fashion brands to work-wear companies and from children’s wear to hotel linen, started an innovative pilot to recover fibres and turn them into new garments.

Details and results of these pilots are detailed below in the form of a case studies. Each contains the percentage of recycled post- and pre-consumer fibres, the material used, which garment was made and the producing country.

Guidance tool

We have also developed a more extensive guidance tool which provides an overview of relevant issues and links to useful resources. Topics covered include learnings from pilots, policy and market developments. It has been created to inspire others to take action in creating a circular approach to textiles and is aimed at professionals working for the textiles industry, including designers, fashion brands, retailers, workwear suppliers and textile recyclers. 

Go to the guidance tool.

Case studies

ASOS

Production of denim jeans made with 17-20% recycled cotton. View ASOS case study.

Blycolin Group International

Production of bed sheets made from fibres of recycled cotton – 15 % post-consumer (old sheets), 35 % industrial cotton waste, 30 % cotton and 20% polyester. View Blycolin case study.

HAVEP

Production of workwear aprons made from 10% post-consumer recycled cotton, 10% industrial cotton waste and 55% recycled PET  and 25% cotton. View HAVEP case study.

JBC

Production of denim for children, women and men made from 20% post-consumer jeans, 79% bio cotton and 1% elasthan (originating from PET bottles). View JBC case study.

Moodstreet

Production of trials in a jersey collection for children, denim and jackets. Jackets were then taken into full production which included polyester made with 43% post-consumer and 57% virgin material. View Moodstreet case study.

Schijvens Corporate Fashion

Production of workwear t-shirts, polo shirts and blouses made from 30% post-consumer textiles (mixed PET & cotton), 20% industrial textile waste (cotton) and 50% PET (from bottles). View Schijvens case study.

TRICORP Workwear

Production of polo shirts for Dutch State Forest Agency made with 10% post consumer recycled cotton and 40% industrial cotton waste and t-shirts made with 10% post consumer recycled cotton, 40% industrial cotton waste and 50% recycled polyester. View TRICORP Workwear case study.

WE Fashion

Production of knitted products made from 50% post-consumer recycled cotton and 50% Tencel. View WE Fashion case study.

Suitsupply

Production of jackets made with 5% post-consumer wool from discarded suits (Suitsupply) and 5% industrial textile waste (wool) 90% virgin merino wool. View Suitsupply case study.

Fact sheets

We have developed a number of fact sheets outlining lessons learnt under seven issues that are important if companies start using recycled fibres. These lessons deal with how to find internal and external support and cooperation, organise communication or logistics and address issues like design and quality of the garment. Many companies also looked at new business models.

The fact sheets available so far are as follows:

Internal support – fact sheet can be found here

Cooperation – fact sheet can be found here

Communications – fact sheet can be found here

Logistics – fact sheet can be found here

Quality of fibre – fact sheet can be found here

Design – fact sheet can be found here

Business models – fact sheet can be found here

Pilot summary

Environmental impacts were calculated by REMO and consider the substitution of virgin into recycled fibres. Other potential environmental benefits were not included (e.g. no bleaching or dyeing) and the calculation did not consider differences between fibres originating from post-consumer textiles versus industrial textile waste, so these were additional savings.

Why take action

As the worldwide demand for sustainable textiles is growing, fibre recovery is an important way of minimising our environmental impact.

Key findings, results and impacts

  • Denims is the front runner in the field of fibre recovery. Not only did several pilots produce denims with recycled content, but others also used denims as a source to produce different garments
  • Pilots included a combination of post-consumer and industrial material waste
  • The wide range of percentages and materials used show how circular textiles can grow in the near future
  • Communication with customers is incredibly important to create demand and a robust business model
  • Supply chain cooperation and knowledge are key to success
  • Integration into existing processes is important
  • Collectors and recyclers are very different to designers and brands so to enable working together this needs to be understood and addressed
  • Track and trace and take back schemes are key to building circularity
  • Legislation of ‘waste’ export is key.

Details of the fibre to fibre recovery pilots were also showcased at the Cirular Textiles – Ready to Market event In Amsterdam on 15th February 2019.

Introduction

The aim: To reduce the use of virgin materials in the production of clothing.

The expected outcome: Saving water, energy and less clothing going to landfill and incineration.

Nine companies, from fashion brands to work-wear companies and from children’s wear to hotel linen, started an innovative pilot to recover fibres and turn them into new garments.

Details and results of these pilots are detailed below in the form of a case studies. Each contains the percentage of recycled post- and pre-consumer fibres, the material used, which garment was made and the producing country.

Guidance tool

We have also developed a more extensive guidance tool which provides an overview of relevant issues and links to useful resources. Topics covered include learnings from pilots, policy and market developments. It has been created to inspire others to take action in creating a circular approach to textiles and is aimed at professionals working for the textiles industry, including designers, fashion brands, retailers, workwear suppliers and textile recyclers. 

Go to the guidance tool.

Case studies

ASOS

Production of denim jeans made with 17-20% recycled cotton. View ASOS case study.

Blycolin Group International

Production of bed sheets made from fibres of recycled cotton – 15 % post-consumer (old sheets), 35 % industrial cotton waste, 30 % cotton and 20% polyester. View Blycolin case study.

HAVEP

Production of workwear aprons made from 10% post-consumer recycled cotton, 10% industrial cotton waste and 55% recycled PET  and 25% cotton. View HAVEP case study.

JBC

Production of denim for children, women and men made from 20% post-consumer jeans, 79% bio cotton and 1% elasthan (originating from PET bottles). View JBC case study.

Moodstreet

Production of trials in a jersey collection for children, denim and jackets. Jackets were then taken into full production which included polyester made with 43% post-consumer and 57% virgin material. View Moodstreet case study.

Schijvens Corporate Fashion

Production of workwear t-shirts, polo shirts and blouses made from 30% post-consumer textiles (mixed PET & cotton), 20% industrial textile waste (cotton) and 50% PET (from bottles). View Schijvens case study.

TRICORP Workwear

Production of polo shirts for Dutch State Forest Agency made with 10% post consumer recycled cotton and 40% industrial cotton waste and t-shirts made with 10% post consumer recycled cotton, 40% industrial cotton waste and 50% recycled polyester. View TRICORP Workwear case study.

WE Fashion

Production of knitted products made from 50% post-consumer recycled cotton and 50% Tencel. View WE Fashion case study.

Suitsupply

Production of jackets made with 5% post-consumer wool from discarded suits (Suitsupply) and 5% industrial textile waste (wool) 90% virgin merino wool. View Suitsupply case study.

Fact sheets

We have developed a number of fact sheets outlining lessons learnt under seven issues that are important if companies start using recycled fibres. These lessons deal with how to find internal and external support and cooperation, organise communication or logistics and address issues like design and quality of the garment. Many companies also looked at new business models.

The fact sheets available so far are as follows:

Internal support – fact sheet can be found here

Cooperation – fact sheet can be found here

Communications – fact sheet can be found here

Logistics – fact sheet can be found here

Quality of fibre – fact sheet can be found here

Design – fact sheet can be found here

Business models – fact sheet can be found here

Pilot summary

Environmental impacts were calculated by REMO and consider the substitution of virgin into recycled fibres. Other potential environmental benefits were not included (e.g. no bleaching or dyeing) and the calculation did not consider differences between fibres originating from post-consumer textiles versus industrial textile waste, so these were additional savings.

Why take action

As the worldwide demand for sustainable textiles is growing, fibre recovery is an important way of minimising our environmental impact.

Key findings, results and impacts

  • Denims is the front runner in the field of fibre recovery. Not only did several pilots produce denims with recycled content, but others also used denims as a source to produce different garments
  • Pilots included a combination of post-consumer and industrial material waste
  • The wide range of percentages and materials used show how circular textiles can grow in the near future
  • Communication with customers is incredibly important to create demand and a robust business model
  • Supply chain cooperation and knowledge are key to success
  • Integration into existing processes is important
  • Collectors and recyclers are very different to designers and brands so to enable working together this needs to be understood and addressed
  • Track and trace and take back schemes are key to building circularity
  • Legislation of ‘waste’ export is key.

Details of the fibre to fibre recovery pilots were also showcased at the Cirular Textiles – Ready to Market event In Amsterdam on 15th February 2019.