Textile Mix - Textile Waste Innovations

This project lays the foundation for circular solutions for mixed textiles, which is a major barrier to textile recycling. It maps current flows and challenges in Sweden, while engaging industry players in both Sweden and the Nordic countries to ensure relevance and market adaptation. Innovative methods for separation and recycling are tested, along with new applications that valorize mixtures into high-value products such as insulation and filtration materials. Prototypes and demonstrators provide concrete evidence of technical feasibility, while life cycle assessments quantify environmental and cost benefits compared to current practices. By combining system insights, industry engagement and technical trials, the project delivers the knowledge and tools needed to scale up future recycling pathways for textile mixtures, reduce waste, create value and accelerate the transition to a circular textile economy.

Project goals

The project aims to increase the share of secondary raw materials and reuse of textiles at a time when global resources are becoming increasingly limited and both consumers and authorities are placing higher demands on reducing the environmental impact of textile production. By developing new technologies and business models for recycling and reuse of textile blends, the project wants to contribute to a more resource-efficient and sustainable textile industry in the Nordic region. The challenge of increasing the share of secondary raw materials and reused textiles is particularly relevant at a time when global resources are becoming increasingly limited and there is growing pressure from both consumers and authorities to reduce the negative environmental impact of textile production. Although a small proportion of textiles are recycled today, there is significant potential to develop and implement new technologies and business models that can increase the share of recycled and reused textiles, which would contribute to creating a more resource-efficient and sustainable textile industry. This study acts as a catalyst for system change in how textile blends can be developed and utilized. It creates direct and indirect value for SMEs by providing access to knowledge, unlocking innovation opportunities and enabling them to contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable and competitive textile industry in the Nordic region. By mapping the challenges and opportunities of mixed textiles (textile mix) in the Nordic region, the study can provide a unified framework for understanding how textile mixes behave, are processed and can be recycled or reused. This shared knowledge is crucial for adapting innovation efforts, regulations and sustainability standards across borders. In addition, the project results can also contribute in the long term to the development of common standards or certifications for mixed textiles.