Partners involved in the TexMat project recently met in Madrid to review progress and advance the development of circular solutions for post-consumer textiles. The meeting brought together the project’s 14 consortium partners from across Europe to further develop the TexMat initiative, which focuses on creating a deposit-return system for used clothing aimed at improving textile collection, reuse, and recycling. The discussions reflect growing efforts within the EU to strengthen circular textile systems and reduce textile waste.  

The Madrid meeting focused on several technical and operational aspects of the project, including the integration of Digital Product Passports into garments, the use of AI-supported tools for textile sorting, and the refinement of user participation models and reward systems. Consortium members also visited facilities operated by Humana Spain to observe textile collection and sorting processes. According to the project update, 61% of garments sorted by Humana Spain in 2025 were directed towards reuse, with products redistributed both within Europe and internationally. The meeting additionally explored business models and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) considerations to support reuse operators and improve the long-term viability of circular textile systems.  

Overall, the meeting highlighted the importance of combining digital technologies, circular business models, and cross-sector collaboration to improve textile waste management and support the transition towards a more circular textile economy in Europe.

For more details, readers are encouraged to consult the full article on TexMat website.