Europe currently sends about 7 million tons of textile waste each year to landfill or incineration, creating a significant sustainability challenge for the region’s fashion and textile sectors. In response, the tExtended research-industry collaboration is piloting a “soft mechanical recycling” process at a pilot facility in Waregem (Belgium) that gently untwists fibers rather than shredding them, preserving strength and length so the resulting material can be reused as high-quality cloth rather than down-cycled to insulation or cleaning rags, tells Tech Xplore.
The project spans multiple European nations, i.e., Finland, Sweden, Belgium, France, Ireland, Latvia, Slovakia, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, running until November 2026. Its core objective is bold: reduce textile waste by up to 80% by transforming end-of-life garments and production waste into fibers that can re-enter the value chain. In parallel, the effort supports the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.
Key changes include mandatory separate collection for textile waste in EU member states since January 2025, which creates a feedstock stream for recycling systems. One example: a Belgian clothing recycler (PURFI Manufacturing) is spinning recycled denim using a 50/50 mix of production off-cuts and post-consumer clothing, aiming thereafter for 100% recycled cotton denim blends.
Despite the compelling potential, the article emphasizes that true circularity demands industry-wide cooperation, from brands designing for longevity and recyclability, to collection and sorting systems, to advanced recycling technologies. The tExtended blueprint includes guidelines for sorting and processing different textile types, helping producers and governments harmonize recycling workflows. The technology isn’t just environmental: by reducing dependence on virgin imports and turning waste into raw material, the European textile industry has the chance to reclaim competitiveness and global leadership in sustainable apparel manufacturing.