PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Across the globe, the clothing and textile sectors stand out as some of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation and emit 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. This is largely because clothing is among the most frequently purchased items worldwide and textile market is heavily reliant on synthetic fibres, which are petroleum derivatives Predictions indicate that by 2030, clothing consumption will jump from 62 million tonnes (as of 2015) to 102 million tonnes, exacerbating environmental concerns. On average, Europeans buy 26 kg of textiles annually but discard 11 kg, with a staggering 87% ending up in incinerators or landfills. A mere fraction, less than 1%, is recycled into new clothing. This situation arises primarily from two challenges: the prevailing linear consumption model and the absence of effective recycling technologies, especially given the complex multi-material makeup of clothing. Within this context, the most environmentally impacting garments are those with high production rates, short lifespans, and non-renewable material bases, with tights being a prime example.
LIFE RE-TIGHTS is launching an innovative solution to tackle the problem of discarded tights. The project aims to create a sustainable cycle by collecting and recycling old tights, transforming them into materials for high-quality recycled products. This approach not only sets industry standards but also emphasises reusing tights as valuable resources instead of sending them to landfills or incinerators.
OBJECTIVES
The ultimate goal of the project is to produce top-quality, environmentally-friendly, and affordably priced tights using entirely recycled materials sourced from worn-out tights. The project intends to reduce the disposal of used garments and the reliance on virgin raw materials. This will be achieved by introducing a reward-based collection system for used tights, which will then be processed to extract secondary raw materials (specifically polyamide) for the creation of new products.
Specific objectives are:
- Establish an effective take-back campaign for worn-out tights (Post-Consumer Tights Collection).
- Showcase an efficient and effective technological solution (TRL 8) that recycles polyamide and polyurethane from used tights, reducing the need of hazardous chemical substances as well as water and energy consumption.
- Produce high-quality secondary raw materials from recycled tights.
- Manufacture low-impact tights primarily from recycled polyamide.
- Demonstrate that the project solution entails a significant Environmental Impact Reduction.
RESULTS
The quantitative results of the project can be summarised as follows:
- Engage up to 500 Point of Sales (PoS) in Italy in the collection campaign.
- Collect up to 150,000 pairs of tights during the worn-out tights collection campaign.
- Develop and set up a recycling plant, capable of producing Secondary Raw Materials from recycled tights and achieving 80% weight recovery of polyamide from collected waste products.
- Recover 3,600 kg of polyamide and 480 kg of polyurethane within the project.
- Produce 120,000 pairs of tights with up to 100% recycled material.
- Obtain Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification and an Environmental Product Declaration for the new products.
Environmental results (for 120,000 pairs of tights):
- Reduction of 18.4 tons of CO2 eq and savings of 4,080 kg of raw materials (3,600 kg of Polyamide, 480 kg of Polyurethane).
- Reduction of energy consumption by 57% compared to standard production (78,200 kWh energy savings).
- Reduction of water usage by 47% compared to standard production (378 mc water savings).