HSE Specialist

Europe's textile recycling industry faces growing economic viability challenge. * Desk Report Published: 13 Sep, 2026 1:24PM Europe's textile recycling challenge is turning into an economic issue, with rising costs and funding gaps. Collection, sorting, and recycling systems struggle despite mounting pressure to build a circular textile industry. In the Netherlands, textile collection and pre-sorting operations are facing a net shortfall of around €0.07-€0.12 per kg in 2026, while sorting operations face a gap of €0.07-€0.14 per kg. At the upper end, this represents a deficit of up to €140 per ton of textiles sorted. The financial pressure is also evident in the UK, where textile collectors and sorters are estimated to spend around £88 million annually dealing with worn-out clothing. If the existing collection and sorting system collapses, local authorities could face an additional £64 million a year in disposal costs. France has responded to the financial pressure with exceptional government support for textile collection and sorting operators. The government provided €49 million in 2025 and is expected to provide a further €57 million in 2026. At the European level, the scale of investment required to expand textile-to-textile recycling is substantially higher. According to a BCG x ReHubs report published in March 2026, scaling textile-to-textile recycling to around 15% by 2035 could require €8-11 billion in capital investment, alongside €5-6.5 billion in annual operating costs. Europe generates approximately 15.2 million tons of textile waste annually, while less than 1% is currently recycled back into new textiles, according to the report. To establish a viable circular textile system, Europe would need to reach around 2.7 million tons of textile-to-textile recycling annually by 2035. While the economics remain challenging, recycling and sorting technologies are advancing rapidly, with several companies developing automated systems to improve the identification and separation of textile waste. TOMRA Recycling is developing automated textile sorting based on its AUTOSORT platform, combining near-infrared (NIR), visible-light (VIS) and electromagnetic sensing to identify fibre composition, colour and contaminants. ANDRITZ is developing mechanical recycling lines for post-consumer textiles, including processes for opening, tearing and fibre preparation. STADLER Group is applying automated sorting technology to textile waste, focusing on separating different textile streams before further processing. Meanwhile, Valvan's Fibersort uses NIR technology to automatically identify textile fibres according to their composition. Pellenc ST is also applying NIR-based optical sorting technology to textile waste streams, while NewRetex combines NIR, RGB cameras, machine learning and traceability to sort post-consumer textiles into multiple material fractions. Spain-based PICVISA uses NIR, VIS and deep-learning technologies through its ECOSORT TEXTIL platform to classify textiles by fibre type, colour and garment category. Notably, Europe's textile recycling is shifting from basic waste handling to advanced automation. New technologies enable higher-purity sorting and feedstock preparation for textile-to-textile recycling. However, technology alone may not be enough to close the circularity gap. With billions of euros in investment and billions more required annually for operations, the industry faces a fundamental question: can Europe build a textile recycling system that is not only technically capable, but also economically viable at scale? The answer will depend on a combination of technological development, stable financing, supportive policy measures and stronger demand for recycled textile feedstock.

TOMRA wins 22 sorter contract at Pilgangoora. The order includes secondary and tertiary X-ray transmission units 25 August 2026 TOMRA announced today that it has won a contract to supply 22 X-ray ore sorters to the proposed P2000 expansion of the PLS Group's Pilgangoora lithium project in Western Australia. The company said... The definitive guide to mining operations and excellence. Established in 1909 by Herbert Hoover, Mining Magazine provides comprehensive technical insight into mining operations. It aims to inform and support mine management in decision-making regarding mining techniques, technologies, workforce, logistics, and supply chains. More on this topic. Exclusive columns from industry experts, interviews, analysis and thought-provoking features.

TOMRA: invitation to Capital Markets day 2026. TOMRA Systems ASA will host a Capital Markets Update for investors, analysts and other financial market stakeholders in Asker, Norway, on 24 November 2026. The event will provide an update on growth opportunities, strategic priorities, execution progress, and the key drivers of returns and value creation across the portfolio. The day will start with a presentation by TOMRA's executive management, followed by technology demonstrations at its Headquarters. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage directly with representatives from TOMRA's management team in smaller breakout meetings. The agenda will run from morning to early afternoon, with further information, including the detailed program and practical details, to be shared closer to the date. Please note that TOMRA's initial communication referred to 25 November 2026 as the date for the Capital Markets Update. The event date has now been changed to 24 November 2026. Registration is required and more information is available on: Capital Markets update 2026. Registration closes on 17 November 2026. Asker, 24 August 2026 TOMRA Systems ASA For further information, please contact: Bing Zhao, Head of Investor Relations (interim) Tel: +47 402 10 819 TOMRA develops solutions that enable circular economies and optimal resource productivity through automated identification, collection, grading, and sorting of resources. Transparency International optimize how resources are obtained, used, and reused - turning waste into valuable resources. Its vision is to lead the resource revolution and enable a world without waste. TOMRA has approximately 119,900 installations in over 100 markets worldwide. The Group had total revenues of EUR 1,318 million in 2025 and employs 5,800 people globally. TOMRA Systems ASA is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: TOM). For further information about TOMRA, please visit www.TOMRA.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.