Textile Recycling: Closing the Fabric Loop
Starting in 2025, used textiles – such as clothing, but also linens, curtains, and bedding – must be collected separately in the EU. This is a key measure of the EU Textile Strategy. By 2030, all textile products placed on the market in the EU are to be durable, repairable, and recyclable. Inaddition, they should consist largely of recy cellulose fibers and be manufactured according to the highest ecological and social standards. Saubermacher is the partner for manufacturers and distributors in shaping the future of textiles. Together, we close textile loops and develop solutions along the entire value chain.
Innovative Solutions for Textile Recycling
Manufacturers, distributors, and collectors, sorters, and recyclers of textiles are currently still facing a number of challenges. Saubermacher actively supports its partners on the path to a more circular economy.
- Innovative collection and sorting systems: Through intensive research and development¹, we create practical structures for efficient recycling.
- Use of recycled fibers: We support manufacturers in successfully integrating recycled materials into their products.
- Early legal certainty: With an eye toward the requirements of the EU Textile Strategy, we closely monitor the associated legislative changes and proactively help shape their national implementation.
¹ The ReUseTex project is funded by the BMI-MI and the FFG and aims to develop an automated, AI- -based sorting system for used textiles.
Close the loop on textiles with us
Used Textiles in the EU
Five million tonnes of clothing alone are disposed of each year in the EU. That’s approximately 12 kg per person. Only one percent of the discarded used clothing is recycled. As a result, textile consumption represents one of the greatest burdens on the environment and climate: It ranks fourth in the EU, and even third in terms of water and land use.
Source: European Commission
Textile Recycling in Austria
According to the Federal Waste Management Plan, approximately 230,000 metric tons of textile waste are generated annually in Austria. Currently, however, about three-quarters of all used textiles end up in residual waste and are thus unavailable for recycling. The proper collection and recycling of textiles, however, are important building blocks on the path toward a circular textile industry. If damaged used clothing and textiles are carelessly thrown into the general waste, valuable resources are lost. The same applies to household and home textiles. Of the quantities processed domestically in Austria, a total of around 93 percent of textile waste is thermally recycled. About 3 percent is landfilled, 2 percent is prepared for reuse, and 2 percent is recycled.
Source: BMK (DE)
Saubermacher as a Solution Provider
You decide which path to take with Saubermacher. From collection to safe disposal to new textile products made from recycled fibers: As a full-service provider for innovative used textile management, we want to work with you to keep textiles in the cycle. You have the challenge – together with you, we’ll find the right solution for your textile products.
Successful Textile Recycling Initiatives and Pilot Projects
Saubermacher is working with partners to develop and test new recycling methods for textiles that can no longer be used. In projects with Kastner & Öhler, Gigasport, Mode Roth, SALESIANER and the Red Cross, approaches for collection, sorting, material identification, and processing are being tested.
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Saubermacher Initiative:
Textile Recycling Cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
These are fabrics – such as those from clothes, towels, bedding, or curtains – that, due to heavy wear and tear, have large holes, tears, or stains due to heavy wear and tear – and which, even after thorough treatment, cannot be reused without repair and processing steps.
In Austria, there is a nationwide collection infrastructure for reusable textiles. Separate collections are managed by municipal entities in all federal states, charitable organizations, and commercial enterprises. The focus of the pilot project “Materials for the Future” is on recycling non-reusable materials. Nevertheless, as a first step, all collected items are pre-sorted by hand, so that any textiles in good condition can be sent for secondhand use.
Recycling used textiles reduces the demand for primary raw materials such as cotton and synthetic fibers, which reduces water consumption and the use of chemicals in textile production.
Textile recycling is challenging, because textiles are often made of different materials, such as cotton and polyester, which are difficult to separate from one another. During recycling, many fibers lose quality, which makes reuse more difficult. In addition, textiles often contain chemical residues that further complicate the process. The sorting and logistics of used textiles are time-consuming and costly, and the market for recycled textiles is small compared to that for new products. Finally, the technologies for textile recycling are not yet fully developed, which makes implementation more difficult.
The recycled fibers are processed together with a portion of virgin fibers into new yarns and, subsequently, into fabrics, which are used to create new textile products such as clothing as well as home textiles like bedding or towels. This process ensures the reusability of the materials and contributes to the creation of a closed-loop textile and fiber cycle.
No. Textile products – especially in the apparel sector – require very high-quality fibers. The quality of the recycled fibers from discarded used textiles varies depending on the processing and wear and tear during “first life” of a textile. Very high-quality fibers are suitable for further processing into yarn and thus into new textile products. Lower-quality fibers are suitable for alternative applications such as insulation materials, use in the construction sector or the furniture industry.
Even textiles that are sent for recycling must be clean and dry. Textiles that are visibly soiled or even moldy cannot be sent for textile recycling. Furthermore, given the current state of technology, not all materials – and especially certain material compositions – can yet be recycled. Therefore, these textiles must currently still be sent for thermal disposal.
Currently, Saubermacher accepts used textiles exclusively through collection initiatives or as part of projects. It is currently not possible to drop off items directly at Saubermacher. Clothing that is still wearable continues to be collected primarily by municipalities or social-economic organizations. As part of its research and development activities, Saubermacher is working intensively on new solutions and a suitable infrastructure for textile recycling in Austria. If you do not have a recycling option nearby where you can drop off your worn-out old clothes, the following still applies: Please dispose of them in the general waste.
The textile waste is sent to one of the most modern sorting facilities in Europe. There, highly trained staff first sort all reusable textiles by hand. Discarded and damaged items are fed into a fully automated sorting facility. Using state-of-the-art sensor and AI-based technologies, it precisely separates fabrics according to material composition and color. Contaminants such as buttons or patches are reliably removed in a subsequent process step. In the subsequent processing steps, this results in sorted and color-sorted recycled fibers, which are ultimately processed into new yarn and returned to the textile cycle.