A new technology platform, T_NEUTRAL, identifies manufacturers that carry a traceability parameter for this material and uses measurement, reduction, and compensation to lessen environmental impact.
The idea was conceived and developed by sisters Charlotte and Mariana Gramunt. As explained in 2021, it emerged from analyzing how to tackle the structural, global, and industry challenge of textile waste, a problem that calls for a united response.
“Worrying” numbers
The textile sector ranks as one of the most polluting industries, contributing significantly to global emissions. It is responsible for around 10% of total CO2 emissions worldwide. This is largely driven by the fast fashion model, which generates about 92 million tons of waste annually. Roughly 87% of discarded textiles end up in landfills or incineration. EU data shows only about 13% gets reused or recycled.
“Laying a ton of textiles in a landfill adds roughly 444 kg of CO2 to the footprint,” noted industry observers.
Reducing this waste volume would deliver environmental benefits and create economic opportunities. A recent McKinsey & Company report titled Scaling textile recycling in Europe highlights that at least one-fifth of European textile waste could be transformed into new garments.
The platform forms a system to measure, reduce, and compensate for the textiles’ footprint. It aims to help industry players quantify their market impact, set structured reduction targets, and improve circularity while addressing waste that cannot be avoided.
Current projections indicate that recovering a portion of this waste could lead to meaningful CO2 reductions, create thousands of jobs, and unlock a substantial market in revenue by 2030. Estimates suggest around 4 million tons of CO2 could be avoided and approximately 15,000 new jobs could be created, with a potential sales market reaching up to 8 billion euros by 2030.
The analysis cautions that industry-wide investment is essential to scale closed-loop recycling technologies and processes.
This is where T_NEUTRAL fits in. It enables producers to measure how much textile they place on the market and to implement structured measures that reduce waste and improve circularity, ultimately balancing out unavoidable waste through strategic actions.
The goal is “total circularity”
Measurement is driven by formulas applicable to different emission sources. In addition to calculating how much control is lost in the process, each production step is mapped to align with carbon footprint indicators, making the underlying bases clearly comparable, according to those behind the project.
The platform combines mitigation practices with positive impacts to achieve a net footprint. It also offers manufacturers the option to compensate through projects in other countries funded by textile credits. This compensation is seen as temporary and is expected to be unnecessary once full circularity is reached.
The platform aims to speed up the shift away from a fast, wasteful production model toward one that is sustainable in resource use and social impact. The team remains hopeful about the industry’s future and believes brands are moving in the right direction with greater responsibility and transparency.
T_NEUTRAL plans to launch the first version of the platform from September and to continue developing mitigation and compensation projects throughout the year ahead.
The project envisions a future where textiles are recaptured, recycled, and remade, with clearer accountability across brands and supply chains. It emphasizes practical steps, measurable outcomes, and real-world impact for people, businesses, and communities across North America and beyond.