Mechanical Textile Recycling Pilot​

Nearly 500,000 tonnes of post-consumer textiles wind up in Canada’s landfills each year, many of which are garments made from fossil-based synthetic (or plastic) materials such as polyester, nylon and acrylic.

The Challenge

With textile waste piling up, we explored immediate recycling solutions – transforming discarded garments into higher-value consumer products.

From Waste to Product: The Pilot

Stacks of discarded, crumpled clothes piled on both sides of a warehouse aisle.

We built a local recycling supply chain with key partners:

  • SportChek: In-store textile collection

  • Goodwill: Sorting and cleaning garments

  • Jasztex: Industrial shredding

  • Alkegen (formerly Texel): Fabric production (carding & needle-punching)

  • Textile Expert Marianne Mercier: Product testing & design

  • Canadian Tire: Retail partner

End Product: A stylish, practical laundry hamper made from 40% post-consumer polyester garments and 50% recycled PET—sold at select Canadian Tire stores in Winter 2023.

Most discarded textiles end up as rags or waste – but we turned them into something better. This pilot proves that old clothes can be recycled into high-value products, made right here in Canada.

How We Did It

Three large black planters with textured surfaces, one with a small white plush toy inside, placed on pastel green pedestals against a muted green background, with a white ceramic vase and small round stones in front.

  1. Pre-Pilot Planning: Built a stakeholder learning group & created a Guidance Document for scalability.

  2. Collection & Sorting: Marketed the pilot, set up collection bins, and sorted 1,000kg of 100% polyester textiles.

  3. Recycling & Manufacturing: Shredded, processed, and turned waste into a durable nonwoven fabric.

  4. Product Development: Designed, tested, and prototyped the final consumer product.

  5. Commercialization: Packaged, priced, and launched the product in select stores.

Why This Matters

These pilots prove that:

  • Black and white line graph chart showing trends over time with plotted data points.

    Textile recycling is possible

    even with Canada’s current infrastructure.

  • A cartoon character with yellow fur, large eyes, and a red hat, standing in front of a sunset with an orange sky and tall palm trees.

    There’s a business case

    for turning discarded textiles into valuable products.

  • A person holding a camera in front of a mirror in a bathroom.

    Circular solutions exist now

    while we wait for advanced recycling technologies to scale.

Pilot Supply Chain Partners:

Stakeholder Group:

How you can get involved

Our Canadian Circular Textiles Consortium (CCTC) is exploring alternative end-of-life pathways for textiles, with a focus on sustainability and circularity.

Become a CCTC partner
Become a CCTC partner