Working together to close the textile loop

design2recycle – the recycling-based design concept and process optimization.

design2recycle creates the basis for all future recyclable products that the partners in the wear2wear™ loop take into account. The foundation is a selection of materials with the highest degree of purity, as well as a design with fewer seams. This should ensure the individual components of the textiles can be separated with a technically-viable and cost-effective process once they are used. Apart from the integration of recyclable materials and ingredients, the focus is on already recycled materials to guarantee the upcycling character. In addition, the integration and cooperation of testing and innovation institutes ensures the optimized provision of our processes and products to ensure a transparent and reliable closed loop system.

Manufacturing in line with design2recyle guidelines.

Apart from single-origin product selection, design plays a key role in the profitable circularity of textile products. Thanks to a design with fewer seams and a selection of compatible ingredients, manufacturers are in a position to sustainably supply circular clothing and products that can be re-utilized as raw material components and resources after they are used.

Manufacture and furnishing of the wear2wear™ apparel.

In addition to supplying single-origin, recyclable products and collections, the manufacturers offer extensive consulting services and engineering know-how for the implementation of circular textiles. The wishes and requirements of the customer are taken into consideration and then transformed into an adapted design concept. Furthermore, the quality and durability of the clothing play an important role in the design of circular products, both of which are constantly monitored and optimized by the manufacturer.

Industrial processes for cleaning and treating workwear.

Industrial cleaners assume responsibility for the professional cleaning of the materials after they are used. They rely on low-emission processes that not only remove dirt and impurities, but also ensure that the materials are optimally treated prior to the subsequent recycling process. Apart from the cleaning processes, the partners enable logistics services that forward the materials to the downstream process steps after cleaning.

Collection, sorting and preparation of textiles.

In order to be able to close the textile loop, a professional sorting is required, which guarantees the sustainable reuse and processing of used textiles. In the sorting process of the collected used textiles, each individual clothing pieces are assessed and inspected by the employees and classified of their individual quality, which determines the economic and ecologic value of the clothing piece.

In order to be able to achieve high-quality recycling, the used textiles must be sorted in terms of their material composition and foreign components must be removed. Through these steps the industry partners ensure that the used textiles are optimally prepared for the subsequent recycling process.

Chemical and mechanical recycling processes for the shredding and chemical treatment of used textiles.

Mechanical recycling involves an industrial process, in which the textiles are shredded into small fragments or fiber structures, which are then turned into a regranulate through supplemental, optional polymer melting processes.

During chemical recycling, used textiles are degraded into basic substances such as oligomers and monomers, which can then be utilized as new raw materials for diverse manufacturing processes. By combining them, these current processes can be profitably implemented, both economically and ecologically, and used within the consortium for raw materials reprocessing.

Manufacture of fibers and yarns from recycled raw materials collected within the loop.

Within the consortium, fiber and yarn manufacturers utilize recycled regranulate to manufacture fiber or fabric materials. This process step leads to a sustainable material loop and makes it possible to supply reusable and recycled basic materials for the manufacture of textile products.