A new pilot project underway in Spain is exploring how digital tools and incentive mechanisms can encourage consumers to recycle unwanted clothing. The initiative introduces smart textile collection points placed in public locations, designed to assess garments automatically and facilitate their reintegration into reuse and recycling channels.

The system enables users to deposit used apparel into intelligent containers that analyse the condition and composition of items. Based on this assessment, participants may receive a form of compensation linked to the potential second-hand or recycling value of the garments. This approach seeks to strengthen consumer engagement while improving the quality and traceability of collected textiles.

The project also supports the development of new operational models for textile collection and sorting, with a focus on extending product lifecycles and reducing the volume of garments directed to disposal. Digital identification and data management play a central role, contributing to more efficient handling of post-consumer textiles.
By testing this model in a real-world context, the initiative provides practical insight into how behavioural incentives and technology can work together to advance circularity in the textile sector and respond to growing sustainability expectations.