The textile company Reciclados Tangier signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on April 18 to set up a recycling plant for textile waste. Textiles and clothing make up the main branches of the manufacturing sector in Morocco, and so this industry needs to manage its waste problem from the production chain.
The new plant, the total cost of which is 695 million dirhams, which is $68.5 million, is intended to process pre- and post-consumer textile waste, in particular fabric scraps from cutting clothing and second-choice products, to be used as raw material for the production of yarns, fabrics, and garments.
According to official data, the textile and apparel value chain in Morocco generates about 83,200 tonnes of waste annually, 56% of which contains high-value materials such as 100% cotton or cotton-rich waste.
Converting Textile Waste into Material for New Yarns and Fabrics
The textile company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to set up a textile recycling plant.
The new $68.5 million facility will convert pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste into raw materials for the production of new yarns, fabrics, and garments for the Moroccan, European, and U.S. market
With this new investment, Reciclados Tangier intends to position itself as a national leader in the manufacture of recycled textile and apparel products to serve not only the local market but also the markets in Europe and America.
In terms of socioeconomic benefits, authorities expect the creation of nearly 6,245 direct and indirect jobs in the long term. Reciclados is a joint venture between the Spanish textile groups Hallotex and Textil Santanderina, located in the industrial zone of Gzenaya in Tangier.
The Textile Recycling Boom
Fashion brands will have to get involved in the collection of used clothes in their shops. With the introduction of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, they won’t be able to throw away surplus and will have to create consortiums to manage their waste. Examples include:
Eileen Fisher
For example, the New-York based Eileen Fisher has been creating both sophisticated and eco-conscious garments for the last 30 years. Using recycled clothing, this ethical brand creates beautifully elegant cashmere cardigans and sweaters in various styles. They are also the largest women’s fashion retailer that is a certified B Corporation. This means that they meet the highest standards for environmental performance and accountability.
Circular by design, the brand’s values are rooted in sustainability. Having come up with their company’s own innovative recycling program, the brand has taken back over 1.5 million pieces since 2009 to be remade and resold into new designs.
Rifò
Rifò is an Italian fashion brand that creates trendy casual clothing from 100% recycled fabric scraps. The brand manages to produce high-quality products while significantly reducing water and chemical consumption. The brand uses recycled cotton to make its cashmere sweaters, scarves, t-shirts, and accessories.
Sustainability is at the heart of the company, and the brand hopes to inspire other fashion companies to follow its lead. The brand offers a trendy range of cashmere sweaters, cotton t-shirts, gloves, scarves, and much more. The brand has been certified with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
Nudie Jeans
Revered as a leader in sustainable fashion, also GRS-certified Nudie Jeans looks for ways to use second-quality jeans to maintain the highest quality of its products while reducing the environmental impact of the production process, in addition to using 100% Better Cotton Initiative cotton since 2012.
The denim brand offers free denim repair services and searches for ways to use second-hand jeans to maintain the highest quality of its products while reducing the environmental impact of the production process.
Two companies in Tunisia are responsible for more than half of Nudie Jeans' production value. To develop more environmentally friendly production processes in Tunisia, Nudie Jeans has been working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of the EU-funded SwitchMed project.