The textile and fashion industry is a resource-intensive and polluting sector where environmental and health impacts are high in all parts of the textile value chain. Climate impacts are caused by a linear and undigitised value chain. We face a future where all actors in the textile value chain need to contribute to making it easier for consumers to make more sustainable choices that reduce environmental and climate impacts.
Jesper Karlsson is one of the founders of RecoMended, which is developing an automated service for companies to repair broken garments and thereby extend their life. The service is being developed in close cooperation with several major Swedish textile distributors operating in an international market.
What is circular textile production
In a circular economy, textiles are designed to be produced with the least possible environmental and climate impact, to be used for a long time and repaired when needed. Products also need to be designed to be recyclable. It must be easy to disassemble products for recycling of materials into new products (remake) or, secondarily, into new fibres instead of raw materials.
Source: Naturvardsverket.se
Together with 14 other companies, RecoMended is participating in the business development programme NEST to further develop the service towards a sustainable company and thus a step towards a more circular textile & fashion industry. The programme is co-organised by the innovation actors Borås INK, Sting, X-plot and eXpression Umeå with the aim of promoting companies like RecoMended that streamline production, develop new climate-friendly materials and reduce transport before goods reach the end consumer.
We need to move from a model of 100% new production to a model where one third consists of remakes of already produced goods, one third are add-ons by adding something to an existing product and only one third is new. To do this, we need to look at the textile industry with new eyes and draw ideas from other industries.
Annelie Rådhall business developer at Borås INK.
Within NEST, participating companies have received business coaching and during the week they participate in a bootcamp with a focus on networking, inspiration and knowledge enhancement in several business development areas with a strong focus on sustainability.
I hope to be inspired and meet other people who are working to change the textile industry.
Jesper Karlsson founder of RecoMended.
The programme concludes on 2 June with a pitch event. Afterwards, it is hoped that most will continue their business development journey, preferably in one of the organisers' incubator programmes.
The companies in the programme
- Beskow von Post, Stockholm
- AB Cirkulero, Hammarö
- Loop nest, Gothenburg
- The fabric Södra Näs, Varberg
- Digital Wardrobe, Gothenburg
- STUMM sound absorption, Stockholm
- am ra AB, Stockholm
- Born Free, Stockholm
- Interoception Now in Sweden, Helsingborg
- Mli by Svensson, Malmö
- Myshowroom, Bromma
- RekoMended, Gothenburg
- ReRobe, Stockholm
- Restyle, Stockholm
- Save the date, Stocksund
