Scaling text
ile-to-textile recycling is about more than developing the right technolo
gies. We also need the infrastructure\, investment\, skills\, markets and
policy frameworks to support those technologies and make recycling comme
rcially viable.
Drawing on UKFT?s research\, industry engagement and work
developing the National Textile Recycling Infrastructure Plan\, this pre
sentation will explore what is needed to move beyond individual innovatio
ns and pilot projects towards a more connected\, coordinated and scalable
textile recycling system.
It will explore the roles of different parts o
f the value chain\, from brands and manufacturers to recyclers\, technolo
gy providers\, investors\, policymakers and local authorities\, and the i
mportance of greater collaboration between them. This includes developing
collection\, sorting and pre-processing infrastructure\, securing reliab
le feedstock and markets\, building the skills and capabilities needed an
d creating the conditions for businesses to invest and scale\, nationally
and globally.
The presentation will also consider the role of policy\, i
ncluding Extended Producer Responsibility\, in creating the right conditi
ons for investment and supporting the development of recycling infrastruc
ture.
Ultimately\, the focus will be on the bigger picture:?what needs to
come together across the industry to make textile-to-textile recycling w
ork at scale?