SELECTIVE COLLECTION OF TEXTILE WASTE

Humana is the pioneering entity in Spain in terms of selective collection and sustainable management of textile waste, with the aim of achieving maximum use of it to turn it into a resource for social purposes. After 38 years of activity, it has established itself as a relevant player in the social economy.

Since 2025, selective collection of textile waste is mandatory throughout the European Union. Therefore, we are faced with an opportunity and an enormous challenge to give the final push to the appropriate management of this resource, faithful to the waste hierarchy and a circular economic model, in which the reintroduction of textiles into the production chain takes priority, prolonging their life cycle.

Currently, Humana has 5,000 containers for the collection of textile waste, distributed in the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Community of Madrid. More than 20,000 tons of used clothing are collected annually.
 

PREPARATION FOR REUSE

Humana has two preparation for reuse (PxR) plants:

  • The Leganés plant (Madrid) covers 15,000 m²: it is one of the largest second-hand clothing and footwear sorting centres in Spain.
  • The Ametlla del Vallès plant (Barcelona) covers an area of 3,000 m².

The management process follows the specifications on collection and preparation for reuse of EuRIC TEXTILES, an entity of which it is a part through the Spanish Federation of Recovery and Recycling.

TRACEABILITY

Humana has the certificate from the independent consultancy Mepex that accredits the traceability of the textile waste processed in its preparation plants for reuse in Madrid and Barcelona.

The distribution of processed textiles is as follows:

  • 62% is destined for reuse: 21% in the shops Humana stores and 41% is exported, mainly to Africa, to enable poor people to people with fewer resources have access to clothing and thus generate resources to generate resources for development cooperation.
  • 29% are by-products whose condition does not allow them to be reused. They are therefore destined for recycling processes.
  • 7% end up in landfill because they cannot be recovered.
  • 2% are unfit for use.
     
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