RETEX
Context
The RETEX partners desire to promote the collaboration between the different actors of the textile, recycling and plastic converting (producers and consumers) value chains. This will enable them to know each other's expertise and to express their expectations. At the same time, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the problems of waste and excess processing. The ultimate goal is to launch innovation projects on economically viable recycled materials, to create a sustainable value chain of recycled products and available secondary materials.
Aim
RETEX aims to restructure the textile value chain to fit the circular economy by:
- putting economic actors to the disposition of the textile industry
- reassessing the "end-of-life management system of textiles"
- stimulating the market demands of products containing recycled materials
rPET
Although recycled polyester from PET bottles (rPET) was a step forward, it does not contribute to a circular textile industry. Currently, less than 1% of textile waste is recycled into new garments. Moreover, the textile sector competes with the packaging industry for rPET, which limits its availability.
True textile-to-textile recycling is essential to reduce dependence on fossil resources and reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Innovations such as chemical recycling, in which polyester is broken down into monomers and rebuilt, offer promising solutions.
