Switzerland/ Swiss companies join forces to recycle clothing using a PET-like system

Seven Swiss companies found the Fabric Loop association to promote the textile circular economy. The aim is to promote the reuse and recycling of textiles, inspired by the PET recycling model.

Seven Swiss textile and clothing companies founded the Fabric Loop association on Tuesday. The association aims to promote the circular economy in this sector through an advance recycling tax.

The aim is to make the reuse, repair and recycling of textiles an integral part of everyday life. The founding companies are Calida, Mammut, Odlo, Pkz, Radys, Switcher and Workfashion, the association said in a press release on Tuesday.

The vision of the participants is a global system that starts with production. Anticipated recycling taxes on product purchases should make it possible to set up infrastructures, technologies and services for this purpose. It is not yet possible to determine the amount of these contributions, as the costs of closed-loop management must first be calculated.

Planned harmonization with the EU system

According to Fabric Loop, the system envisaged in Switzerland needs to be harmonized with the EU market, to enable cross-border cooperation. In the long term, all market participants - including foreign online platforms - should also participate in the financing.

In the European Union, sector-specific solutions such as this should be introduced across the board from 2026 onwards, says the association. The aim is to make companies in all member states more accountable. Companies from third countries such as Switzerland, which deliver to the EU, will also be affected.

PET as a model

Fabric Loop wants to draw inspiration from the PET recycling system, which has made it possible to collect, sort and recycle plastic bottles throughout the country: "We don't want to reinvent the wheel, but build on what already exists and works," notes Fabric Loop president Nina Bachmann of the Swiss Textiles trade association, quoted in the press release.

Before such an industry solution can be launched, however, preparatory work is required. Fabric Loop will draw up the legal and organizational foundations in the course of 2025. It will also have to convince other companies to take part in the project and develop the business model.

Source: www.lenouvelliste.ch/