Today, only 2% of post-consumer textiles in the EU is being diverted to fibre-to-fibre recycling. The need to address the mounting issue of textile waste in Europe was the main inspiration for Race Against Waste launching its textiles races. The challenge we face to address this problem is of course bigger than any one organisation so we are always looking for like minded organisations to team up with.

Collaboration T-REX

We are excited to announce a new collaboration with the EU-funded T-REX (Textile Recycling Excellence) Project which is also working to help solve the challenges around collecting, sorting and recycling end of life textiles. The T-REX Project brings together 13 major players from across the textile value chain along with research institutes to create a harmonised EU blueprint for closed loop sorting, and recycling of household textile waste.

Across a three-year period, the T-REX Project is working to collect and sort household textile waste and demonstrate the full recycling process of three material streams including  polyester, polyamide 6, and cellulosic fibres from textile waste which will be developed into new garments. During the course of the project the consortium ultimately  aims  to develop systemic solutions to the problem of textile waste and assess how citizens can be empowered to actively contribute to the change.

Which brings us to our joint collaboration. Across the months of September and October, Race Against Waste and the T-REX Project are teaming up to run a Textile Race in Westland in the Netherlands. The race will include 7  teams (from 5 schools) who will compete to collect as much end-of-use textiles as possible to re-enter the textiles stream for recycling. In addition, the children are encouraged to carry out extra assignments in which they gain experience with all steps of the R-ladder for circularity; for example, with a clothing swap (‘Re-use’ step) of a and clothing repair session (‘Repair’ step) they can gain extra points. To learn more about the race please contact us.

T-REX information video

Watch the T-REX Project animation video to learn more about the project and its goals, see video above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR96BGU9SoE&t=1s

The Textile Race in Westland is part of the T-REX Project's citizen engagement activities. Head to the project’s website for more information: https://trexproject.eu