A pioneering closed loop recycling initiative has successfully transformed 24 tons of post-consumer textiles into around 50,000 garments for the Dutch retailer Zeeman, marking a significant achievement in the realm of textile recycling across Europe.
The project was spearheaded by the Boer Group, a prominent Dutch textile recycling center, and received financial backing from Refashion. Both organizations are integral partners in the ReHubs alliance, which aims to build a comprehensive European value chain for textiles.
Initially, textiles were collected and sorted in France before being processed in the Netherlands by Frankenhuis, a mechanical recycling specialist part of the Boer Group. Frankenhuis managed the crucial tasks of color sorting and defibration.
Select blue and white textiles were specifically chosen to naturally influence the color of the final yarn. This prepared feedstock was then sent to Italy, where Spinaker was responsible for spinning the yarn and Stella Sky knitted the fabric.
Zeeman’s role as the end customer was pivotal, as it helped to define product characteristics and ensure they met consumer expectations.
According to a statement from ReHubs, each garment produced for Zeeman through this closed loop recycling initiative contains 70% recycled content.
Mariëlle van Dillen, Zeeman’s senior buyer for circular initiatives, commented: “At Zeeman, we want to show that circular innovations can also be accessible for affordable clothing for everyone. By collaborating with strong European partners, we have proven that post-consumer textile waste can be turned into new, high-quality products that our customers love to buy.
“The sweaters from this project were a great success in our stores, selling very well and demonstrating that customers value affordable circular fashion. This project brings us one step closer to our ambition to reuse textiles more often and reduce our impact as a retailer.”
Spanning eight months, the project was designed to evaluate both the technical and financial feasibility of producing garments with high levels of recycled content in Europe.
The initiative demonstrated the capability of converting post-consumer textiles into quality yarns and garments, achieving a circular value chain that extends from collection to manufacturing within the region.
The yarn produced during this closed loop recycling initiative significantly reduced the environmental footprint compared to conventional products, resulting in lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduced water usage, and decreased energy consumption, as revealed by an accompanying environmental impact report.
Véronique Allaire, head of circularity at Refashion, stated: “This project proves that Europe can turn its textile waste into new garments at scale. By building a fully circular value chain here in Europe, we have shown that textile-to-textile recycling is not only possible but commercially viable. It’s a powerful signal that our industry can lead the shift towards a truly circular economy.”
