Partnership Initiative
Implementing Circularity in the Textile Industry

Image credit: © BlackSalmon/istockphoto.com

The challenge

Global textile production almost doubled between 2000 and 2015. Every year, 92 million tons of textile waste are generated worldwide, of which 5 million tons are generated in the EU. Only 1 % of textile waste is currently recycled in circular systems and less than 1 % of the fibers used are returned to the textile production chain. However, the new EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles envisages that textile products on the EU market will be durable, repairable and recyclable in the future.

Our approach

As part of the Partnership Initiative, members of the Textile Partnership receive training and advice on the design of fully circular products according to strict sustainability criteria. Depending on their current status of work on circular design, some companies also develop their own collections equipped with a digital product passport (DPP). The DPP contains the information required for sorting and recycling. To ensure feasibility, suppliers of the brands are involved in the entire product development process and consulted before each production step.

Our goals

The aim of the initiative is to help close the loop in the textile industry and use the pilot as a blueprint for other German and European companies. By providing brands, suppliers, sorters and recyclers with the necessary know-how, innovative solutions for circular design, circular production, take-back systems can be implemented and a recycling infrastructure can be developed. In this way, companies can optimally prepare themselves for the upcoming EU regulations. As part of the project, individual member companies are developing their own fully recyclable products, some of them even their own capsule collections.

Articles on this initiative

Step by step towards recyclability

07/2023

Facts and figures


Project duration	11/2023–08/2025
Focus topic	Environmental protection
BMZ focus topic	Just Transition
Project countries	Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan
Involved Partnership members	ALDI Süd, Blutsgeschwister, KiK, Otto Group mit OTTO und bonprix, Snocks, Tchibo
Implementation partners	circular.fashion
Other partners	Fairwertung, BoerGroup, Texaid, Grenzgang

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SDGs

‘The development of the Circular Collection at OTTO is characterised by the consistent decision in favour of recyclable materials. On the one hand, this means a high level of transparency about the materials used and, on the other, the possibility of high-quality recycling at the end of the use phase of the styles. In this way, we contribute to closing the raw material cycle and creating something new from the materials.’

Brigitte AsquinoSenior Sustainability Multiplier, Otto (GmbH & Co KG)

‘As part of the textile industry (and as a fashion brand), we have a responsibility to take our customers on the journey of circularity. Through our participation in the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles initiative, we are committed to creating products that are durable, repairable, and recyclable. Our aim is to develop sustainable solutions that not only have a positive impact on our environment, but also offer real added value for our customers.’

Frederike KönigManager Quality Sustainability, Tchibo GmbH