Zeeman launches garments from post-consumer textile waste

A closed-loop recycling project, initiated by the Boer Group, with financial backing from Refashion, has transformed 24 tons of post-consumer textiles into nearly 50,000 new garments for Dutch retailer Zeeman, each made with 70% recycled content. The entire value chain was established within Europe, showcasing the potential for a regional circular textile system.

Running over eight months, the initiative aimed to test both the technical and economic feasibility of producing garments with high recycled content entirely within Europe. The results proved that post-consumer textiles can indeed be converted into high-quality yarns and garments, creating a truly circular supply chain involving all key stages.

An accompanying environmental report confirmed significant sustainability gains, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water usage, and decreased energy consumption compared to conventional production.

“By building a fully circular value chain in Europe, we’ve shown that textile-to-textile recycling is not just possible but commercially practical,” said Véronique Allaire, Head of Circularity at Refashion. “This is a strong signal that our industry can drive the transition toward a circular economy.”

“At Zeeman, we want to prove that circular innovations can be accessible and affordable,” added Mariëlle van Dillen, Senior Buyer at Zeeman. “The sweaters from this project were a great success in our stores, showing that customers appreciate affordable circular fashion. This takes us closer to our goal of reusing textiles more often and reducing our environmental impact.”