A circular textile project in Europe has turned 24 tons of post-consumer textile waste into 50,000 new garments for Dutch retailer Zeeman. Each piece contains 70% recycled content, proving that large-scale textile-to-textile recycling is both technically possible and commercially viable.
A Fully European Circular Value Chain
The Boer Group launched the project with financial support from Refashion, both active members of ReHubs, a European platform advancing textile circularity. The initiative relied entirely on European operations — from collection and sorting in France to recycling in the Netherlands, and spinning and knitting in Italy.
At Frankenhuis, engineers colour-sorted and defibrated the collected fabrics. They chose blue and white textiles to naturally influence the shade of the new yarn. Later, Spinaker spun the yarn in Italy, and Stella Sky knitted the final fabric. Zeeman, the project’s end customer, defined the garment type to match consumer expectations and brand quality standards.
Feasibility and Environmental Impact
The eight-month project tested both the technical and financial potential of producing high-quality garments from recycled fibres. Results show that post-consumer textiles can be transformed into durable yarns and fabrics within Europe.
An environmental report confirmed the benefits: the use of recycled yarn led to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water use, and less energy consumption compared to conventional yarn.
Industry Leaders Speak Out
Véronique Allaire, Head of Circularity at Refashion, explained:
“This project proves that Europe can transform its textile waste into new garments at scale. By building a fully circular value chain, we’ve shown that textile-to-textile recycling is both practical and profitable. It sends a strong signal that our industry can lead the shift to a circular economy.”
Mariëlle van Dillen, Senior Buyer Circular at Zeeman, added:
“At Zeeman, we want to make circular fashion affordable for everyone. By working closely with European partners, we’ve shown that textile waste can become high-quality, accessible garments. The sweaters from this project were a huge success in our stores, proving that customers value sustainable and affordable clothing.”
Driving Circular Transformation Across Europe
Aligned with ReHubs’ new strategy, the initiative bridges the gap between recyclers and fashion brands. It demonstrates how collaboration across the value chain — from collection and sorting to recycling, spinning, and retail — can bring real, circular products to market.
This success highlights the power of European cooperation in turning textile waste into valuable new garments. It establishes a benchmark for future projects and strengthens Europe’s momentum toward a sustainable, closed-loop textile industry.