Design smarter trims, scale textile to textile recycling

Trims may be small, but they’re a big reason textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling struggles to scale. Adhesives, threads, laminates, labels, and fasteners often block recyclers from processing garments efficiently. TOMRA Recycling highlights this issue, echoing findings from Accelerating Circularity’s CSTIM report.

The CSTIM working group mapped out how trims disrupt fiber recovery and what can be done to fix it. Their research shows that even garments labeled “100% cotton” or “100% polyester” often include incompatible trims—polyester threads, polyurethane coatings, or mixed-material zippers—that disqualify them from recycling streams.

Here’s what the report recommends:

• Design for easier trim removal: Brands should choose trims that match the garment’s base fiber or can be removed quickly. A PET zipper on a cotton shirt? Not helpful. Even if recyclable, it slows down sorting and adds cost.
• Use digital product passports (DPPs): DPPs can store trim data, fiber content, and recyclability info. But unless sorters can read them at high speed, they’re just another layer of complexity. Harmonized standards and machine-readable formats are key.
• Invest in automated sorting and preprocessing: Manual de-trimming is slow and expensive. Automation boosts throughput and accuracy, helping recyclers get cleaner feedstock. But current systems still struggle with hidden trims and complex garments.
• Support policy frameworks: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and mandatory DPP legislation can push brands to design smarter and fund infrastructure upgrades. Without policy support, circular systems stall.
• Collaborate across the value chain: Brands, recyclers, sorters, and policymakers must align on feedstock specs, trim standards, and data-sharing. The CSTIM report calls for shared infrastructure and centralized QA tools to reduce waste and improve interoperability.

TOMRA reinforces this call to action. Their expertise in automated sorting shows how tech can help—but only if upstream design and downstream specs are aligned. The “small stuff” matters. Getting trims right is a practical step toward scaling circularity in textiles.