Back to news

Humana participates in a European project for the collection and return of used textiles

13-01-2026

A Spanish university, two companies, and a non-profit textile reuse operator are contributing to a new EU-funded project to pilot a deposit-return system for used textiles across Europe. Known as TexMat, the initiative will reward consumers for returning reusable and recyclable items, while notifying producers when discarded textiles require proper waste management. Automated containers will also assess the quality of items and capture key information on materials and product history through digital product passports, set to be introduced across the EU in the near future.


The project brings together four Spanish partners, each contributing expertise to support textile circularity in Europe:

  • The University of A Coruña leads research on sustainable business models, consumer studies, and system requirements, and supports environmental assessments.
  • Humana Fundación Pueblo para Pueblo validates business models, conducts end-user studies, and leads the real-life demonstration of the TexMat solution, leveraging its extensive experience in textile reuse.
  • IRIS Technology Solutions develops digital and software solutions for textile collection and sorting, ensuring smooth integration with the TexMat digital platform.
  • Rovimatica develops the TexMat App and smart container, providing expertise in software development and artificial intelligence to create a user-friendly, intelligent digital platform.


Ece Şanlı, Circular Economy Expert at Humana Fundación Pueblo para Pueblo, said: “As the European Union reshapes the future of textile sustainability, the valorisation of used textiles has never been more urgent. Through automated collection and sorting, the TexMat solution directly contributes to the development of the Digital Product Passport and paves the road for a successful Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textiles, while rewarding citizens for making esponsible choices and fostering greater participation in a circular textile economy.”


The TexMat project, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, brings together 14 partners from seven EU countries. Pilot activities will take place in Spain and Finland, with the aim of exploring how the system could be expanded across Europe.


Elina Ilén, TexMat Project Leader at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, said: “TexMat solution has great potential to transform the collection and resale of used but still valuable garments, supporting second-hand markets while enabling consumers to monetise their textiles. By developing a cost-effective, robust, and user-friendly solution, we aim to relieve consumers of the need to evaluate which garments can be resold for reuse or recycling. Automated collection and sorting will also support textile waste management operators by quickly and accurately separating garments suitable for reuse from those destined for disposal, reducing reliance on manual work."


Europe faces a growing challenge with textile waste. In 2022, an estimated 6.94 million tonnes were generated — roughly 16 kg per person. Of this, around 11 kg per person was not separately collected and typically ends up mixed with household waste destined for landfill or incineration.


The TexMat solution aims to change this by ensuring that the vast majority of textiles are collected for reuse or recycling, so that only a tiny fraction risks being wasted, while supporting extended producer responsibility policies.


The initiative has received €6.25 million in funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

 

Humana participates in a European project for the collection and return of used textiles-img1
Humana participates in a European project for the collection and return of used textiles-img2