Today, one of the greatest challenges of the circular economy is the professional management of used textiles. A data-driven, industrial-scale solution to this problem is being sought through a newly announced twelve-month pilot project by Saubermacher and SALESIANER. The initiative aims to recycle textiles from the professional laundry sector back into materials, reducing the rate of environmentally harmful waste incineration.
The Untapped Potential in Professional Rental Textiles
Used textiles from the professional laundry sector—including hospitality, healthcare facilities, and workwear—pose a significant challenge to waste management. Complex material blends, substantial physical wear, and heavy soiling make secondary processing technically difficult. At the same time, the commercial rental textile sector possesses a massive, highly scalable advantage over post-consumer residential clothing.
These textile streams are generated continuously in predictable and measurable quantities. Since it involves industrial use, the composition of material types and the usage and washing cycles of the textiles are completely transparent. Building precisely on this transparency, Saubermacher and SALESIANER have launched their twelve-month pilot project, with the declared goal of establishing and testing a closed or partially closed textile loop.
Allocation of Roles and Quality Control in the Project
The successful cooperation is based on the specific competencies of both companies, covering the entire End-of-Life process:
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The Role of SALESIANER: The company provides direct, physical access to the selected textile waste. Furthermore, they contribute critical know-how regarding product material composition and precise usage cycles.
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The Role of Saubermacher: The waste management company handles the evaluation, sorting, and material identification of the incoming textiles, and is responsible for identifying and coordinating recycling and reuse opportunities.
According to the principles of the circular economy, textile reuse (Re-Use) would take priority; however, due to high industrial and commercial quality requirements, this is only possible to a very limited extent in the professional sector. Consequently, the research focuses on how waste can be processed back into new textiles, as well as identifying alternative material recycling paths away from incineration.
Open-Loop Solutions: Identifying New Target Markets
Given that worn-out fibers are not always suitable for reproduction into yarn for garments, the project places a strong emphasis on researching so-called Open-Loop solutions. This process involves the recycling of fiber qualities that are no longer suitable for spinning yarns for clothing.
Through open-loop utilization, used materials can find new life in entirely different product categories:
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Automotive accessories and components
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Construction and industrial insulation materials
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Furniture manufacturing base materials
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Acoustic panels
The insights gained will serve as a basis for potential scaling and market introduction. At the same time, the project aims to provide momentum for industry and commerce to consider appropriate applications and consumer markets at an early stage. Furthermore, close cooperation with the industry opens up the possibility of integrating “Design for Recycling” approaches right during the development of new textile products.
Expert Statements: Data-Driven Decision Making for the Future
The significance of the initiative was also emphasized by the top executives of both companies. Andreas Opelt, CEO of Saubermacher, highlighted that instead of thermal utilization (incineration), robust data and strong partnerships are required to map out new paths for material recycling. Eva-Maria Wurzer, Business Development Textiles at Saubermacher, drew attention to the ideal, well-planned volume of rental textiles, which is a prerequisite for efficiently implementing scalable recycling solutions.
Phillip-Sebastian Marchl, Managing Director of SALESIANER Austria, mentioned the long usage cycles and high quality requirements, making it all the more important to develop sustainable solutions for the end of their life cycle. Mathias Nell, Head of Sustainability & Grants at SALESIANER, stated that textile recycling is one of the major future topics of the European circular economy, for which this project aims to develop reliable data and practical models for later scaling.
References and Sources:
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Original Press Release: Saubermacher – Alttextilien als Rohstoffquelle von morgen
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Official Background Context (Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology – BMK): Strategies on Circular Economy and Textile Waste Management in Austria
