H&M has formed a joint venture with Remondis to collect, sort and sell used and unwanted garments and textiles.

H&M is the world’s second biggest fashion retailer. Remondis is a German recycling group. The 50-50 owned venture, called Looper Textile, is starting its operations in Europe and aims to extend the life cycle of some 40 million garments in 2023.

The venture plans to test new collection schemes and implementing automated technologies, including near-infrared sorting, and hopes to become a preferred feedstock provider to companies and innovators engaged in textile resale and recycling.

Conscious consumption is on the rise. People are looking for natural fibers, customers are increasingly looking for honesty. It’s estimated that 300,000 tons of textiles go to household bins. It’s the UK’s fastest-growing household waste stream. Brands are trying to find solutions whereby these materials can be repurposed or reused. By reusing and repurposing these donated textiles, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount sent to disposal, creating an efficient way to combat climate change.

Currently the demand for recycled fibers is growing, but access to the waste supply is limited. Key elements to supporting the growth of textile-to-textile recycling include understanding material composition, volume and location of used textiles as well as expanding access to textile recycling.