Challenges

Circular Textile Sustainability

City of Amsterdam

Background:

Amsterdam is growing and that means that more goods are being transported into and out of the city. This includes textiles. As a result, more textile products are being thrown away: each year, around 10 kilos per person. In addition, garments are being worn less, partly because we have more money to spend on new clothes, and partly because on average the quality of clothes has decreased, leading to them wearing out or showing defects quicker. COVID-19 has shown that we need to start treating our valuable resources differently. In April 2020, Amsterdam’s City Council announced the aim of becoming a frontrunner with its approach to textiles. The City of Amsterdam’s goal is to procure more circular textile products. All too often, the ‘easier’ choice has been taken, such as using recycled polyester.

The City buys a wide range of textile products. Some examples are: towels, bathrobes, towelling slippers, shirts, sweatshirts, first-aid blankets and so on. With this challenge, we want to link ambitious businesses to concrete procurement tasks from the City, so that we may take some small steps towards making the textile chain circular and thus contribute to the greater good.

The issue/assignment for startups:

  • In consultation with municipal officials, develop a procurable circular textile product. Target businesses that are developing small- to medium-sized production processes, mainly with Dutch or other European partners.

Criteria:

  • demonstrable experience with circular yarns and product development;
  • transparency about and for several partners;
  • partnerships or procurement concepts in the textile sector;
  • demonstrable knowledge of the industry and the necessary network;
  • a creative side as well as the ability to invest in a solution that is being finalised/in development;
  • use of textile from the region.

Issued by:

  • Waste and Recycling/Circular; circular textiles programme