The track

The Track by Telakatju is a co-operation network promoting textile recycling through sustainable production, use, and recycling of textiles. The organization's objective is to reduce textile waste in landfills and achieve environmental sustainability.

Recycling of textiles and other materials poses challenges of acceptance among consumers since they often like to know its origins, the composition and purity of the material, and its history related to the collection source, and method used to collect it. Consumers even want to know if it is consumer textile waste or industrial surplus before they accept it.

Telakatju aims to make the recycling process more transparent and efficient by covering and managing all the stages of textile development, right from the product design to its manufacturing and return for recycling purposes, thus creating a circular textile economy.

To achieve this goal, Telakatju conducted a demo, where it collected used textiles from consumers in the Turku region, sorted and delivered them to France for fiber collection. The recycled fibers were then used by research partners and companies to recreate environment-friendly recyclable products such as composites, nonwoven fabrics, and acoustic panels.

To develop this textile circular economy, Telakatju has tied up with more than 20 companies and research partners. The goal of the Track program is not only focused on recycling, but also on managing the entire value chain, extending the lifespan of the textiles, and creating sustainable business models. 

The need for adopting sustainable textile practices was urgent due to the European Union's mandate for the separate collection of textile waste by 2025, which is a major source of environmental pollution.

As per VTT, the primary research institution behind the project, the annual market potential of this circular textile economy could be 60 million Euros and could reach up to 120 million Euros. The project is in the R&D phase, with all the partners working on and testing the different phases of the project. Also, 5 waste disposal companies in Southern Finland have started a cooperation for collecting textile waste more efficiently. A treatment pilot line is expected to be set up in Paimio as well. 

Textile manufacturing companies, waste management companies, and recyclers are the industries that can benefit from this textile circular economy.