Textile service companies unite to advance textile recycling in Europe

A group of members of the European Textile Services Association (ETSA) has joined forces beyond traditional competitive boundaries to address challenges in textile recycling. The initiative aims to develop scalable solutions for textile recycling. It reflects the sector’s continued efforts to advance sustainability in line with EU circular economy objectives.

The textile services industry has long applied circular principles at scale. Its business models are based on reuse, repair, and extended product lifecycles, helping to reduce textile overproduction and prevent waste.

The new pilot focuses specifically on strengthening end-of-life solutions. Participating companies include several major European textile service providers: Alsco, Bardusch, CWS Workwear, Lindström, Mewa and Salesianer.

“We seek to encourage and support our members in their efforts to manage textiles efficiently, but also to contribute to solutions at the end of their lifecycle,” says Elena Lai, Secretary General of ETSA.

In its first phase, the initiative concentrates on transforming end-of-life textiles into recycled fibres for use in insulation materials, industrial wipers and other textile products, in collaboration with the Polish recycling company PPHU TUR. These insulation materials can serve applications in sectors such as automotive and construction, where recycled fibres can replace virgin materials. The longer-term aim is to explore scalable closed-loop solutions in which recycled fibres serve as raw material for new textiles.

“Circularity isn’t a vision. It’s a process we are building today. ETSA members are testing recycling solutions that keep valuable resources in the loop longer,” says Kati Pallasaho, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Sustainability at Lindström

By working together, the participating companies seek to address the limited availability of large-scale textile recycling capacity in Europe. The collaboration pools expertise and practical experience to support the development of viable recycling markets.