RESORTEX

RESORTEX will develop and implement a decision support system that can help companies to navigate and design more effective and efficient post-consumer textile fiber-to-fiber recycling value chain.

Globally <1% of fibre produced for clothing are being recycled into new textiles. In future with increasing volume of low-value textile waste streams developing recycling value chains are crucial. Given current valorisation is hindered by challenges at product-process-supply chain levels, tackling such systemic challenges requires complex decision-making. Thus, data-driven decision-support can guide the industry stakeholders (sorters, recyclers, circular material procurers, manufacturers and retailers) on how to manage and valorise more effectively.

RESORTEX will develop and implement a decision support system that can help companies to navigate and design more effective and efficient post-consumer textile fiber-to-fiber recycling value chain. In an interactive and dynamic way, the tool will guide in improving process efficacy and optimize recycling networks and align with market needs. RESORTEX will also characterize the feedstock to aid standardizing textile waste categories and define relevant taxonomies. Practitioner-oriented learnings will be generated to guide stakeholders orient their business models. RESORTEX is multi- and inter- disciplinary with roots in Circular economy value chains, Decision science, and Textile recycling.

The project contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8, 9, 12 and 17.

Aims and objectives

The main goal of RESORTEX is to guide textile fiber-to-fiber recycling value chain members in effectivizing supply of recycled textile inputs that can reduce the gap between the recycling status quo of 1% and projected 18% by 2030, by generating practitioner-oriented learnings for enhancing future valorisation.

Approach

RESORTEX will be implemented via four work packages:

• Mapping of current flows and opportunities for enhancing value creation in relevant textile recycling ecosystems,
• Designing, developing and modelling a data-driven decision support system,
• Investigating recycled material categories for efficient recycling processes, and
• Upscaling different business models.

Expected results

RESORTEX will develop an interactive and dynamic decision support tool that can support designing efficient and optimized textile recycling value chains, where the supply of raw materials in the best way is matched with current market needs. On a more comprehensive level the decision support is expected to contribute to a greater understanding of the potential of different business models and value creation in textile recycling chains. RESORTEX will also characterize the feedstock to aid standardizing textile waste categories and define relevant taxonomies.