Unlocking the potential of post-consumer textiles to drive textile reuse and recycling in the UK: assessing post-consumer sorting, grading and feedstock requirements among textile reuse and recycling stakeholders

Start date: 1 November 2024
End date: 31 July 2025
Funder: NERC, Exeter University
Primary investigator: Professor Stephen J. Russell
External co-investigators: Lauren Junestrand (UKFT); Rachel Singer (ReLondon)
Postgraduate students: Dr. Ioana Taylor

Value

FEC: £99825.39; Exeter grant: £79860.31

Partners and collaborators

ReLondon; UKFT

Description

The purpose of this project is to map sorting and grading criteria for post-consumer textiles, based on product

types, quality, and end-market requirements. It includes analysing waste sample compositions against industry criteria and identifying reuse and recycling feedstock standards among domestic circular economy stakeholders, assessing data availability across the sector. The results will help qualify and quantify existing and future infrastructure capabilities and identify opportunities to retain and process post-consumer textile waste domestically. The methodology includes interviews, surveys, and waste composition analyses, using a high-density London borough as a case study and representative industry stakeholders.

Impact

Potential journal/conference publications

Project website

https://futurefibresnetworkplus.com/ff/up-unlocking-potential-of-post-consumer-textiles/