A new industry coalition, the T2T Alliance, has been established to promote textile recycling within the fashion sector. The alliance comprises textile recyclers Circ®, Circulose, Syre, and RE&UP Recycling Technologies, aiming to advocate for enhanced policies and ensure that textile-to-textile recyclers’ interests are considered in forthcoming textile regulations, especially within the European Union.
Presently, only 0.3% of the fashion industry operates on a truly circular model, as reported by Circle Economy. The majority of textiles continue to be disposed of in landfills or incinerated, highlighting the necessity for large-scale textile recycling to achieve sustainability. The T2T Alliance is striving for a closed-loop recycling system that encompasses post-industrial, pre-consumer, and post-consumer waste, aiming to guide the industry toward genuine circularity.
The alliance has already contributed to the European Commission’s recent report on eco-design, advocating for the integration of recycled content and recyclability as fundamental requirements in textile production. This initiative aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainable practices within the fashion industry.
Advancements in technology are supporting these sustainability efforts. For instance, research has introduced autonomous textile analysis pipelines that utilize robotics, spectral imaging, and AI-driven classification to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of textile sorting processes. Such innovations contribute to a more sustainable and circular approach to waste management.
Development of datasets like TextileNet, which is based on textile material taxonomies, facilitates the training of deep learning models for textile material identification. These technological advancements are instrumental in optimizing the textile supply chain and promoting sustainable practices within the industry.
The formation of the T2T Alliance represents a concerted effort by industry stakeholders to address the pressing issue of textile waste and to advocate for policies that support a circular economy in fashion.
