Textile waste from laundries: A collaborative circular opportunity
Gabriel Venegas, Gabriela Garzón, Joana Pechirra, and Tess Zentarsky, four young students from EADA Business School, develop a project to analyze the textile waste produced by laundries in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, focusing specifically on hotel textiles such as sheets and towels. Their goal is to assess the volume of cotton waste generated and its associated environmental impacts, comparing the use of virgin cotton with recycled cotton.
The primary objective of the project is to explore a collaborative circular solution through the revalorization of solid waste generated by laundries at the end of the textile lifecycle within the region. The students tackled this challenge by estimating the waste flows generated by laundries, identifying current disposal methods, and calculating the negative externalities (environmental impacts) associated with this waste. They also examined the potential to recycle and transform it into new products, specifically sheets and towels, using local processes within Catalonia.
Purpose: to explore a collaborative circular solution through the revalorization of solid waste generated by laundries at the end of the textile lifecycle
Their work estimates that a significant volume of waste is generated each month, largely composed of 100% cotton textiles. The students highlight that, with a more direct recycling solution, these materials could be efficiently reused in new products, reducing the need for virgin cotton.
However, the team also identifies several obstacles to implementing recycling solutions. The first obstacle is technological: the recycling processes required for cotton textiles are costly and not easily accessible. The second obstacle lies in the need for greater cooperation across the entire value chain. For recycling to be viable, companies need to improve coordination and reassess current business dynamics to ensure quality standards are maintained during the recycling process.
With this project, Girbau LAB seeks to bring young talent closer to today’s challenges, participating in the development of real solutions for the laundry and textile treatment industry.
Additionally, the students note that legislation aimed at assigning a cost to negative environmental externalities and a possible increase in the price of raw materials could promote local textile recycling. Laundries play a crucial role in this process by implementing efficient sorting and collection systems for textiles that have reached the end of their lifecycle.
The project by Venegas, Garzón, Pechirra, and Zentarsky highlights the importance of collaboration between different industries to address textile circularity and reduce environmental impacts. Their work sheds light on the need for innovative solutions in Catalonia’s laundry sector, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
Good job!