Since its launch in May 2024, the project SOLSTICE It is accelerating the transition from linear models to circular regional ecosystems in the European textile industry, with a focus on four territories: Grenoble-Alpes Métropole (France), Berlin (Germany), Prato (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain)At the halfway point of the project, SOLSTICE has already highlighted both regional disparities and promising solutions to strengthen the textile repair, reuse and recycling infrastructure.
SOLSTICE began with an in-depth territorial analysis led by Circle Economywhich examined how local textile systems function in the four regions. The results revealed significant geographical imbalancesCircular services such as repair, reuse, and recycling continue to be largely concentrated in urban centers, leaving suburban and rural areas underserved.
El analysis also confirmed a A uniform approach to circularity doesn't work.Each territory operates within a distinct economic and infrastructural context. Whereas Berlin and Grenoble are primarily consumer hubs focused on creative repair, Prato is characterized by its industrial recycling capacity.. For its part, Catalonia It collects large volumes of textile waste, but It still depends heavily on dumping due to the lack of reuse infrastructure.
These findings underscore the need for specific strategies by territory to effectively scale up circular textile solutions across Europe.
Based on the territorial analysis, especially regarding access to infrastructure and the population habitsSOLSTICE launched specific pilot projects designed to actively involve citizens in the circular economy.
In Berlin, the project, through Circular Berlin, launched REPAIR DEALA pilot program that encourages citizens to repair denim garments instead of discarding them, combining a digital bonus system with local repair services. Meanwhile, in Prato, the Prato City Council boosted participation through a gamified app called greenApesCo-designed with the citizens, the application that maps local reuse services and rewards sustainable behaviorsallowing users to convert points into discounts or donations to social projects.
These pilots demonstrate how behavior changesupported by digital tools and local services, can increase significantly participation in circular textile practices.
Alongside these citizen-focused initiatives, SOLSTICE partners achieved significant technical advances to address the most complex sorting and recycling challenges identified during the ecosystem mapping phase.
Automated classification: Pellenc ST successfully tested automated sorting lines on post-consumer textiles, producing high-quality raw materials for chemical recyclers, with a PET purity greater than 96%.
Elastane removal: to address complex blends, Next Technology Tecnotessile developed a thermochemical process which selectively removes elastane from mixed fabrics, allowing recover polyester and polyamide for reuse.
Decision support: to optimize these processes, Techtera He launched Valoramixa tool that uses Economic simulation to help professionals visualize flows and identify the most viable valorization routes.
Based on a clear understanding of how the different regions operate, SOLSTICE connects local citizen action with large-scale industrial solutionsThe project demonstrates that moving towards a circular textile industry It does not depend on a single solution: It requires better data, consumer support, and advanced recycling technology working in a coordinated manner..
As part of a consortium of 24 partners driving the project, Texfor – Confederation of the Textile Industry contributes to the implementation and monitoring of pilot actions and the mobilization of the Catalan textile ecosystemconnecting the project with companies and stakeholders in the region. Texfor also participates in communication and dissemination activities to transfer the results of SOLSTICE to the sector as a whole.
You'll find Additional information and visual documentation of the project activities and pilot actions in this LINK, which includes images of the four pilot territories.
For more information: media@texfor.es | +34 937451917
About SOLSTICE
SOLSTICE is a Horizon Europe project funded by the European Union. It is led by Axel'One, an open innovation platform for chemistry and the environment in France, and the SOLSTICE consortium is European in scope, covering the entire value chain in textiles and plastics. The project began on May 1, 2024, and will run for 42 months. The full list of partners is available on the project website. It receives funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 101134989.
Project website: https://www.solstice-project.eu/Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
