Fashion for Good, a global initiative for sustainable fashion, is amplifying its Sorting for Circularity framework to combat the growing crisis of rewearable textiles ending up in landfills. The 18-month Sorting for Circularity Europe: Rewear Project focuses on automated sorting technologies, employing artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize the sorting of rewearable garments, ensuring they remain in circulation rather than contributing to global waste streams.

The global textile industry has witnessed a doubling in production and consumption over the past 15 years, with garments now being worn 40% less, averaging a mere seven uses before disposal. In the EU, the export of used textiles has tripled since 2000, reaching almost 1.7 million tonnes in 2019. Legislative changes in the EU, such as Extended Producer Responsibility schemes and stricter regulations on textile exports, underscore the urgency for effective solutions to the textile waste issue.

Fashion for Good's innovative project aims to address the root causes of waste mismanagement by establishing a framework for quality and resale potential in key export regions. The incorporation of AI sorting technologies will enhance the efficiency of sorting processes and enable better decision-making based on product data and resale market requirements.

The initiative, backed by major brands like adidas, C&A, and Levi Strauss & Co., seeks to generate insights that inform policy developments and guide investments toward a circular economy. The Sorting for Circularity Europe: Rewear Project not only contributes to sustainable fashion practices but also aligns with impending legislative changes, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between brands, sorters, and innovators to meet evolving regulations and drive positive change in the textile industry.