Functional fabric fair Performance Days presented the latest innovations in textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling, while debating challenges and opportunities for how to support and build recycling infrastructure, to deliver T2T recycling for performance fabrics at scale.
Enabling T2T technologies and systems
The message at Performance Days was loud and clear; recycled fabrics made from plastic bottles are no longer adequate. The industry must therefore collaboratively push towards commercially viable T2T recycling technologies and systems, to increase the availability of T2T recycled, and recyclable performance fabrics in the future.
As demonstrated at the fair, the number of T2T recycling technologies is growing steadily, although considerable obstacles to commercial adoption are yet to overcome. During the focus topic panel, representatives from recycling technology company Re & Up, textile recycling alliance ReHubs and materials regeneration company ReJu, debated the critical role sorters and collectors must play in making T2T recycling work.
Panellists agreed that significant investment, beyond what can be raised through EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) fees, is imperative to develop the supporting infrastructure around collection, sorting and recycling. Therefore, it is essential that international textile regulations come into full force as soon as possible, so the right signals can be sent to provide confidence to investors.
In addition, the panellists highlighted the need for collaboration, including between competing stakeholders. Platforms, such as the T2T Alliance, an association which provides collaboration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy for T2T recyclers in the EU’s policy ecosystem, are key enablers for success.
Collaboration needs to go beyond EU stakeholders, and the panellists discussed practical ways of potentially sharing the T2T recycling process between Europe and Asia. This includes the collection, sorting and regeneration of post-consumer textiles into chips in Europe, while these could then be shipped to Asia for manufacture into yarns and fabrics. This approach would add value to textile waste in Europe, generating jobs and funds for further investment.
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