Spain launches pilot for large-scale textile waste management
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The Spanish Association for the Management of Textile Waste, FEMP (Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces) and some of the largest fashion companies are joining forces to tackle textile waste ahead of the EU regulation for the Collective System of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles and footwear (SCRAP), which is expected to come into force in 2026. In a press release, they announced the launch of Re-viste, Spain's inaugural pilot program dedicated to the collection of textile waste. This initiative, which is backed by significant industry players such as Decathlon, H&M, Inditex, and Mango, is designed to assess and enhance the efficiency of textile waste collection systems.
Scheduled to commence in April 2025, Re-viste will implement and evaluate various waste collection strategies across six Spanish municipalities, home to approximately 300,000 residents. The pilot will explore a range of collection points, including public streets, municipal cleaning facilities, and private establishments like shops and schools, to cater to urban, semi-urban, and rural populations. Post-collection, the textiles will be transported to sorting facilities for assessment, with the intention of directing reusable items to second-hand markets or recycling non-reusable items into new fabric creations. A dedicated monitoring committee, comprising representatives from Re-viste and FEMP's Textile Waste Working Group, will oversee the program to ensure its successful execution. It is projected that, following the enforcement of the new legislation, Spain will require a textile waste container for every 1,200 inhabitants.
Re-viste's director, Juan Ramón Meléndez, has highlighted the critical nature of the collaboration between local governments, manufacturers, and consumers in achieving more effective waste management systems. He stated, "This pilot program is a significant step towards establishing a sustainable framework for the collection and recycling of textiles. Our primary objectives are to increase the reuse of materials and to enhance our recycling processes."
Furthermore, Alejandro Dorado, the Circular Economy Commissioner at the Ministry of Ecological Transition, has emphasized the importance of the textile sector to Spain's economy, which contributes 3 percent to the country's GDP. He commented, "The establishment of Re-viste and the initiation of this pilot program mark significant strides towards a more sustainable future for the textile industry in Spain."
