Recycling

In order to prevent a future scenario where the earth is overpopulated and unable to provide clothing for everyone, and where water scarcity and droughts threaten our survival, there is a pressing need for a paradigm shift in the textile industry. This is why Transforming Textiles AB was established.

The importance of textiles in our lives cannot be overstated. They are integral to every aspect of our daily activities. Currently, the textile industry plays a vital role in the global economy, providing livelihoods for millions of people. However, the prevailing take-make-dispose model has severe negative consequences for the environment and human wellfare.

Presently, textile production accounts for a staggering 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, surpassing those of international air and maritime transportation combined. In the next 5–10 years, the textile industry will face significant environmental, societal, and humanitarian challenges.

The excessive consumption, overproduction, and depletion of natural resources have pushed us to a point where soon we will only be able to clothe a fraction of the world’s population. The textile industry has long been shrouded in silence, as no long-term solutions have been found. However, our solution aims to change that by enabling large-scale mechanical fiber-to-fiber recycling and establishing a fully circular industrial system in the future.

This urgent need for change is highlighted by the recent regulatory directives introduced by the EU through the Textile EPR and the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. By 2025 and 2030, all EU member states will be required to implement separate textile waste units and establish collection systems for used textiles.

Currently, an average of 14 kg of new clothes and textiles are purchased per person per year, but nearly one-third of these purchases go unused. Approximately 8 kg per person per year is discarded as waste. In the EU alone, 12.6 million tons of textile waste is generated, with 5.2 million tons comprising clothes and shoes, equating to 14 kg per person per year. In Sweden, the responsibility for organizing textile waste management falls on municipalities.

However, transforming the textile manufacturing industry necessitates systemic changes that require unwavering commitment and innovation. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaborations with various industries and sectors are essential to address the entire mechanical recycling process, which will need to be complemented by digital processes. This is why Transforming Textiles operates in the fields of space, healthcare, and fashion – to tackle these challenges.