Skip to content
TTK University of Applied Sciences and Protex Balti AS from Estonia are contributing to a new EU-funded project to pilot a deposit-return system for used textiles across Europe. Known as TexMat, the initiative will reward consumers for returning reusable and recyclable items, while notifying producers when discarded textiles require proper waste management. Automated containers will also assess the quality of items and capture key information on materials and product history through digital product passports, set to be introduced across the EU in the near future.
The TexMat project, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, brings together 14 partners from seven EU countries, combining research with industry expertise. Estonia is represented by two partners who contribute complementary strengths in textile research and manufacturing.
At TTK University of Applied Sciences, the work in TexMat grows directly out of their long-standing focus on applied textile research and close cooperation with the industry. TTK helps translate material science into practical decision-making by defining and validating when a textile is still fit for reuse and when it has truly reached the end of its life. By identifying clear, measurable material indicators, they aim to support reliable, data-based sorting solutions that make circular textile systems workable in real-world conditions – not just in theory.
The TexMat project closely aligns with Protex Balti’s commitment to advancing sustainable textile solutions in the clothing industry. Within the project, the company contributes industrial know how across a wide range of garment categories to help ensure that digital product passport integration functions reliably under real world manufacturing conditions. The main goal is to develop durable, long lasting products without compromising end user comfort or brand design integrity.
Elina Ilén, TexMat Project Leader at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, said: “TexMat solution has great potential to transform the collection and resale of used but still valuable garments, supporting second-hand markets while enabling consumers to monetise their textiles. By developing a cost-effective, robust, and user-friendly solution, we aim to relieve consumers of the need to evaluate which garments can be resold for reuse or recycling. Automated collection and sorting will also support textile waste management operators by quickly and accurately separating garments suitable for reuse from those destined for disposal, reducing reliance on manual work.”
Textile waste is a growing challenge in Europe. In 2022, an estimated 6.94 million tons of textile waste were generated, equivalent to approximately 16 kg per person. Of this, around 11 kg per person was not separately collected and typically ended up mixed with household waste destined for landfill or incineration. The TexMat solution aims to change this by ensuring that the vast majority of discarded textiles are directed toward reuse or recycling, with only a minimal fraction becoming waste.
The initiative has received €6.25 million in funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program.
