Classifications of textile waste

Although the collection and recycling of textiles has increased, and will continue to increase, there are still major challenges in sorting and managing textile waste efficiently, in particular due to material mixtures and lack of advanced technological infrastructure. Several recycling technologies have come a long way, but a barrier to scaling up is the lack of raw material in large volumes. 

The demand for fibre to fibre recycled raw material is also still very low and there is scarce information to make realistic calculations and see the business case for switching to more recycled textiles in relation to virgin materials. There is a great need for a classification system that covers the most widely used and common fibre blends today and that can help to make the right decisions in product development and purchasing.  The project have focused on further development of a basic framework for assessing the recyclability of textile materials and products. This is a continuation of the Vinnova project Framework for Circular Textiles.

The project has created important synergies with other initiatives in textile recycling, especially where the need for harmonized classification and common data points has been central. Through workshops and close industry dialogues, new contacts have been established between sorters, recyclers, technology suppliers and within standardization work, which strengthens future collaborations and influences upcoming choices regarding recyclability and circular material flows. The work has also generated spinoff effects, including in the form of method development, in-depth environmental analysis and increased consensus on which quality indicators are needed in the next generation of recycling technologies.

The project's clear connection to European standardization work has further strengthened its relevance and created the conditions for wider implementation. Key success factors were the broad support in the industry, the combination of technical analysis and practical verification, and a shared focus on creating a concrete, usable tool. This has laid a solid foundation for future development and continued collaboration in the rapidly growing textile recycling sector.

Download excel file: Public classification tool