Together with leading industry associations, the Textil+Mode association has launched a nationwide survey for dealing with textile -like waste. The focus is on the entire value chain – from manufacturing to trade and cleaning to disposal. “This initiative is a milestone. For the first time we want to collect reliable data across the industry in order to design sustainable circular economy,” says general manager Uwe Mazura.
The survey is aimed at all actors who generate or work in textile -like waste – from producers to textile service providers to trade. The project is supported by the member associations of the entire association of the German textile and fashion industry as well as other industry networks.
The aim is to make the fabric flows that have so far hardly been documented – from unsuccessful new goods to production remains. Particularly relevant: a view of Abfallexports. “Many old textiles end up abroad – and thus also potential raw materials. Without an overview of what remains with us, real recycling in Europe is pure theory,” says Jonas Stracke, Head of Circular Economy at the Textil+Mode association.
The data obtained should be evaluated using artificial intelligence and scientific methods. The aim is to develop concrete scenarios for reuse, recycling and innovative exploitation approaches. “Textile flows are often invisible today. With the help of digital tools and AI, we want to recognize where in the future there are actually usable resources – and how we can keep them in a circulation,” explains Stracke.
Against the background of planned legal changes-such as the ban on extermination from the EU Ecodesign Ordinance or a reform of waste law-the survey provides an important data basis for politics and business. The results are intended to help design practical, economically viable solutions.
According to the association, the survey runs until August. The results are to be announced in autumn.
