In the transition to a circular textile system, much of the attention often goes to visible elements like collection bins, sorting facilities, recycling plants, and resale platforms. However, the invisible foundation of success is data. Without reliable and shared data, municipalities, recyclers, and businesses operate in uncertainty. With it, they can design smarter systems, cut waste, and build the trust essential for participation. Large-scale solutions are impossible without data.
Three key reasons why data is essential:
- Data as the plumbing of circularity
Data connects the system like plumbing. Today, different players use inconsistent terms and formats, creating bottlenecks. For instance, “pre-consumer waste” is defined differently by municipalities and recyclers, causing confusion. Shared standards in reporting—covering fibre composition, volumes, and destinations—allow smoother operations. A European pre-processor once faced rejection rates of 25–30% because incoming deliveries didn’t meet their needs. By tracking and sharing results with suppliers, rejection rates dropped to below 5%, using the same suppliers and machinery—only with better data. - Transparency builds trust
Citizens are motivated to recycle when they trust the system. Tracking where collected textiles go—whether reused locally, within the EU, or exported—creates visibility and reassures residents their efforts matter. For municipalities, now required by the EU to manage separate textile collection, this transparency provides both public trust and evidence for refining systems. - Data makes EPR fair and inclusive
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is set to transform textile management across Europe. But fairness hinges on shared standards. Without harmonised data, smaller actors like SMEs and social enterprises risk being sidelined in favour of larger companies. Open and standardised datasets ensure equitable responsibility, fees, and opportunities across the sector, making EPR both efficient and inclusive.
Myth busting: Data doesn’t need to be complex. It can start with simple questions: What textiles are collected? What condition are they in? Where do they go? Even basic yes/no indicators (“in spec” or “out of spec”) can boost efficiency, paving the way for more advanced digital reporting systems later.
Bottom line: Data is not optional—it is the backbone of circular textiles. It builds efficient, transparent, and fair systems, gives policymakers evidence, strengthens public trust, and ensures inclusivity across the sector.
TEXroad, a partner of the STICT project, will leverage its expertise in textile data to co-develop shared datasets, metrics, and insights with municipalities, supporting the success of separate collection and EPR harmonisation across Europe.