Memberships/Cooperations
With partnerships along the entire textile value chain, TEXAID is an active supporter of the circular economy. The Group employs project coordinators for research and recycling, quality, environmental and risk management as well as for various social commitment projects with associations.
Memberships
TEXAID is a member of the BIR, a global recycling association that represents around 800 companies and 35 affiliated national recycling associations from 70 different countries.
Further information:
Bureau of International Recycling
As a cooperative enterprise, Circle Economy promotes the transition to a recycling economy through the development of scalable solutions and awareness of the cycle concept. The Circle Textile Programme develops system innovations necessary for the transition to a cycle system. Together with an ecosystem of brands, collectors, sorters and recyclers, it produces the crucial data, tools and pilot projects that form the foundation for a circular textile economy.
Further information:
Circle Economy
The Make Fashion Circular Initiative is an initiative by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Launched at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in May 2017, the programme brings together leading figures from the fashion industry. These include brands, municipal authorities, philanthropists, NGOs and innovators who want to work together to create a new textile economy in line with the principles of the circle economy.
Further information:
Make Fashion Circular (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
TEXAID is a member of Textile Exchange, a global non-profit organisation that works with its members towards sustainable change, in particular in the use of fibres and responsible supply chains.
Further information:
Textile Exchange
The Future of Textiles Association (GftZ) has been endeavouring to ensure the sustainable use of textiles and the associated high-quality collection, sorting and recycling of used textiles since it was founded in 2014. The main aim of this interest group is to develop and establish guidelines for the sustainable handling and high-quality use of used textiles. TEXAID has been a partner of GftZ since 2015.
Further information:
Future of Textiles Association
The Federal Association for Secondary Raw Material and Waste Disposal (bvse) is a group of German companies active in the collection, processing, marketing, re-use, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of waste. It advocates the maintenance of functional material cycles, high-quality recycling, the creation and safeguarding of open markets, the processing and marketing of secondary raw materials, the establishment of a high standard of quality and qualification in the waste disposal sector, uniform enforcement of laws and the harmonisation of international environmental standards.
Further information:
German Federal Association for Secondary Raw Material and Waste Disposal
TEXAID participates in the transfer of expertise between science and industry as part of the Allianz Faserbasierte Werkstoffe Baden-Württemberg (AFBW) e.V., a cross-industry network. The focus is on technology and fields of application, from the fibre to the finished product.
Further information:
Allianz Faserbasierte Werkstoffe Baden-Württemberg
TEXAID is a member of Südwesttextil. This association represents the interests of textile manufacturers and employees in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Südwesttextil advises its members, conducts political and business networking, actively supports textile research and promotes social and sustainability standards.
Further information:
Südwesttextil e.V.
Partnerships/Cooperations
The ZIM network RE4TEX consists of stakeholders from the most diverse fields, such as textile companies or mechanical engineering companies. The common goal is to further develop existing technologies and develop new technologies to recover raw materials from textile production waste.
Further information:
RE4TEX
wear2wearTM is an industry partnership designed to close the textile cycle. The participating European companies are committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices. Each partner contributes to a specific stage of the textile recycling process. Our vision is to produce high-quality textile products out of 100% used textiles.
Further information:
wear2wearTM
In cooperation with the Pusch Foundation and its counterpart in French-speaking Switzerland (Cosedec), TEXAID raises awareness among children and young people about textile recycling and clothing consumption.
Pusch has developed teaching materials which are made available to Swiss schools free of charge.
Further information:
Teaching materials from Pusch
Cosedec
In the newly created collection by Rafael Kouto, a fashion designer from Ticino, the focus is on recycling, upcycling, sustainable design and environmentally responsible production in the fashion industry. TEXAID has provided him with individual old textiles for the project.
Rafael Kouto has Italian and Togolese roots that characterise his designs. The influences of both his Italian and his Togolese origins can be seen in his collections. In 2014 he completed a degree in fashion studies in Basel before going on to obtain a Master’s degree from the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam in the summer of 2017. He entitled his final Master’s degree project “All the nothing that will remain”. His aim was to draw attention to the mass production of clothing and the rapid consumption and disposal of garments. In his collection, Rafael Kouto tackles the creative upcycling of old textiles and other discarded items, transforming them into unique new creations featuring African and western elements. He combines upcycling with haute couture, incorporating print, embroidery and weaving techniques. At the 13th edition of “Mode Suisse” in Zurich, he was given the opportunity to present his collection to the fashion world.
Kouto’s objective is to continue to develop creative upcycling techniques using old textiles and other waste materials, and to commence production on a larger scale. In doing so, Kouto gives selected items of old clothing new value, whilst making a statement in favour of a more sustainable production system for textiles.
Further information:
Rafael Kouto
Fashion Prize: 25 July 2019