The Fibersort is a technology that automatically sorts large volumes of garments and finished textile products by fibre composition. Once sorted, these materials become reliable, consistent feedstock for high-value textile-to-textile recyclers. When commercialized, the Fibersort will create a tipping point for a new, circular textile industry.
This report provides an overview of potential barriers for the implementation of Fibersort technology for collectors and sorters. The purpose of this document is to provide these stakeholders, as well as recyclers and other relevant actors, with the information needed to understand the importance, fit and potential of the Fibersort technology.
This analysis was based on publications from organisations working within the same focus areas and primary insights gathered through surveys and interviews1 to multiple value chain actors participating in the project including collectors, sorters, recyclers, manufacturers and brands, as well as industry and academic experts.
The Fibersort consortium of partners will continue to research and collaborate with other projects and industry stakeholders to grow our collective understanding of post-consumer textiles and the opportunities technology could provide to create a circular future. This report is part of a series of publications for the Fibersort, an Interreg North-West Europe funded project. Stakeholders involved in the project receive early access to information and more detailed findings. Sign up here to become a stakeholder.
For more information on the project, go to: www.nweurope.eu/fibersort
1The research was supported by 46 participants (collectors, sorters, recyclers, brands, retailers, academic experts) which completed questionnaires in the form of surveys or interviews or participated of the Beyond Green Fibersort Workshop 2017 on the topic of the research. Within the scope of this project, participants remain anonymous and data was aggregated in order to present the general findings.