Tracing Textile Waste
The Tracing Textile Waste Project by Fashion for Good and Textile Exchange focuses on improving transparency and traceability of textile waste in the reverse supply chain.
Problem Statement
There is a lack of transparency regarding the origins of textile feedstock. Tracing textile waste is currently a manual and fragmented process, with data collected not being classified and standardised efficiently for consolidation and exchange. This lack of clarity is a growing concern as both brands and regulators increasingly demand greater visibility to ensure the authenticity and traceability of materials, especially for recycled feedstocks.
The need for transparency is further underscored by regulations such as the European Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), a key component of the EU’s Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. This regulation aims to make products in the EU more sustainable by focusing on improving product durability, reparability, recyclability, and circularity, with a strong emphasis on reducing environmental impact across industries, including textiles. As regulatory pressure intensifies, there is an urgent need for systems that provide reliable and verifiable traceability to meet sustainability goals and ensure compliance.
Executive Summary
The project was launched in July 2024 with Fashion for Good and Textile Exchange, alongside brand partners adidas, Target, Bestseller, Norrøna, and Levi Strauss & Co. With support from Control Union, Reverse Resources, Recover and Usha Yarns. The aim of the project is to harmonise data and system capabilities in the reverse supply chain. The project seeks to create alignment through an open-source data template. It will establish and validate a standardised framework for collecting and exchanging textile waste data between the point of origin and recyclers. A key objective is to deliver recommendations to Textile Exchange for the development of new and existing standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). Additionally, the project explores digital waste mapping platforms to simplify administrative tasks for certified processes, creating a streamlined and scalable approach for the industry.
Goals of the Project
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Standardise the labelling and classification of data points for Material Declaration Forms (MDFs) and Transaction Certificates.
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Test the exchange of RMDF data (not API integration) between key stakeholders in multi stakeholder pilots.
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Recommend an industry framework (based on MDF open data standard) for the first data input of textile waste feedstock for certified recycled materials, particularly for GRS & RCS certification improvements.
Project Results
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A validated industry framework for the initial data input of textile waste feedstock for certified recycled materials, specifically aimed at enhancing GRS and RCS certification processes.
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This framework will provide practical use cases for implementation across waste mapping platforms, streamlining the administrative tasks for recyclers when applying for transaction certificates.
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Additionally, it will improve transparency around certified recycled materials, offering brands greater visibility into their material mix to support their future sustainability goals.
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Ecosystem
Innovators
Manufacturers
Brands
Relevant Resources
Fashion for Good and Textile Exchange Team Up to Trace Textile Waste
Sorting For Circularity; Fashion for Good Launches New Project To Drive Textile Recycling
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