TRUSTEX

Background to the project

• Recycling Gap : Less than 1% of textile waste undergoes fiber-to-fiber recycling, with the majority of collected waste exported to third countries where traceability is lost.
• Volume Escalation : Fiber production is expected to triple by 2030, exceeding 147 million tonnes, driven by business models that encourage impulsive consumer behavior.
• Waste Crisis : Of the 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste generated annually, 78% remains unsegregated and destined for landfill or incineration.
• Environmental Impact : The textile industry ranks as the 4th most harmful to the environment, requiring 9 m³ of water, 400 m² of land, and 391 kg of raw materials per person.

Aims of the project

TRUSTEX aims to revolutionize the EU textile industry by developing and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility schemes that promote circular business models through eco-design principles, improved waste management systems, and digital traceability solutions.

The updated Waste Framework Directive mandates separate collection of textiles by 2025, with Extended Producer Responsibility schemes identified as the most efficient financing solution.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Schemes

Creating a textile ecosystem where producers manage their products’ full lifecycle through eco-design, efficient collection, sorting for reuse, and recycling systems, while leveraging digital tools to transform waste into resources for a circular economy.

Circular Economy in Action

Transforming the textile industry through systems that keep materials in continuous use, designing products for durability, reusability, and recyclability while eliminating waste and pollution to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Partners of the project

As the EU prepares for mandatory separate textile collection by 2025, TRUSTex brings together 19 partners across 11 countries to revolutionize textile waste management. The 3-year project unites 5 Research and Technology Organizations, 2 Universities, 3 Non-Governmental Organizations, 3 Large Industry Representatives, and 6 Small and Medium Enterprises in an unprecedented collaboration.

WEBSITE OF THE PROJECT 
LINKEDIN PROJECT

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Research and Innovation program under grant agreement N° 101181901 and from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).