Why circular textiles matter in a resource-scare world
Nearly every business relies on textiles—from hospital bed sheets and restaurant aprons to construction workwear and pharmaceutical gowns.
“You can’t run almost any business without proper textiles,” says Ulla Luhtasela, Director of Sustainability at Lindström. “They need to be good quality, fit for purpose, and safe for employees and customers.”
That makes the rising challenges facing the textile industry relevant for every business. Climate change, population growth, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity are affecting the availability and cost of raw materials, forcing the industry to adapt.
The resource challenge: What’s at stake
The linear textile model isn’t working anymore. The industry keeps producing new items while barely recycling what already exists. Globally, only around 1% of used textiles globally are recycled back into textile products. At the same time, materials like cotton demand huge amounts of water and land—adding pressure to regions that are already under strain.
| The old way: Linear model | The new way: Circular model |
| Take: Extract raw materials | Reuse: Create from recycled and biobased materials |
| Make: Mass-produce garments | Make: Produce on-demand only and repair for longevity |
| Waste: Discard worn garments in landfills | Recycle: Transform worn garments into new materials |
“You might not see the impact today, but eventually, it will catch up with us,” says Ulla. “Now is the time to build the infrastructure, systems, and technologies needed for the moment when we can no longer rely on cheap raw materials—or afford to misuse them.”
Short-term cost pressures often push sustainability to the back-burner. But ignoring resource scarcity means risking higher costs, supply issues, and scrambling for raw materials down the line.
The shift toward circular textiles
Recycled materials are gaining ground
The industry is starting to move away from virgin materials. PET bottles and other plastic waste are increasingly turned into recycled polyester, for example.
“For us in textile services, recycled polyester works as well as virgin material,” says Seija Forss, Material Manager, Service and Product Concepts at Lindström.
But recycled materials still come with challenges. Both mechanical recycling—where textiles are simply torn back into fibres—and recycled polyester cost more than virgin materials, partly due to development costs.
“Turning old textiles into new yarn and fabrics is still a developing process. Virgin fibres need to be added to achieve the right quality,” explains Seija.
Regulations are pushing the industry forward
New EU regulations like the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy are reshaping how textiles are designed, collected, and recycled.
Soon, all companies putting textiles on the EU market will need to join producer responsibility organisations that collect, sort, and recycle textiles.
“These regulations aim to ensure end-to-end circularity,” says Ulla.
Developing high-quality fabrics from recycled fibres takes resources and new competences. As volumes grow and stakeholders compete on quality and price, costs should come down and circularity will improve in the long run.
Ulla Luhtasela, Sustainability Director
Circularity is a joint effort
Scaling the circular textile economy requires collaboration, innovation, and commitment across the entire supply chain. No company can solve resource scarcity alone—it takes yarn spinners, fabric producers, garment makers, and customers all moving together.
“By choosing the right partners and being clear about your sustainability goals, you can help drive the world in the right direction,” adds Ulla.
How we reduce raw material dependency at Lindström
Creating textiles built to last
While we’re increasing our use of recycled and preferred bio-based fibres, making long-lasting textiles is still the most sustainable thing we can do.
“The biggest win comes from using textiles as long as possible. Producing only one garment—even from virgin material—is better than a garment from recycled material if it lasts twice as long,” says Ulla.
That thinking shapes everything we do, from design to daily operations. Workwear is built with reinforced elbows and knees, protected zippers, and repair-friendly construction. Every laundry keeps the right spare parts on hand, from pockets to fire-resistant thread in the right colours and sizes.
In 2024 alone, we repaired nearly 5 million pieces. “Every repair means less waste and fewer virgin resources used,” summarises Ulla.
Our garments also move between customer groups as they age. What’s no longer suitable for front-of-house—like a stained doctor’s coat—can still be perfect for laboratory work, extending the garment’s lifespan without compromising safety or quality.
Avoiding overproduction
Through PRODEM, our production model for workwear manufacturing, we only make what our customers need. Orders can be as small as one to three pieces, avoiding wasteful bulk production.
“The PRODEM concept prevents overproduction, which is key from both environmental and economical points of view,” says Ulla.
Shared inventory takes it a step further. When towels, bed sheets, or other items aren’t tied to a single brand, they can circulate between customers, reducing the total number of textiles needed.
Washing textiles more efficiently
Professional laundering optimises three factors at once: water, energy, and detergents—affecting both wash quality and environmental impact.
After 100 years of fine-tuning these processes, we’re quite good at it. And we’re always finding new ways to improve, especially in water-stress areas.
Ulla Luhtasela, Sustainability Director
Globally, we use about 7 litres of water per kilogram of washed textile: 4.6 litres for mats and 13 litres for workwear. Our water purification systems recycle wastewater, reducing fresh water needs. In water-stress regions like China, India, Turkey, and Romania, we aim to improve water efficiency by 50% by 2030.
We’re also electrifying our equipment, replacing fossil fuel systems like natural gas steam boilers. Our goal is net zero emissions by 2050, with a 50% reduction by 2030 compared to 2021.
Why renting textiles beats owning:
“You get the right amount of textiles in the right sizes, in the right place, at the right time. It’s a level of efficiency and quality that’s very difficult to achieve on your own.” – Ulla Luhtasela, Head of Sustainability at Lindström
Driving the transformation together
Companies that adopt circular models now will get ahead of tightening regulations and shrinking raw material access.
“Start taking steps now, even if it’s more expensive at first,” says Ulla.
When you’re a frontrunner, you’re ahead of companies who’ll need to do it eventually—with the skills, connections, and systems already in place. That becomes your competitive advantage.
Ulla Luhtasela, Sustainability Director
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