Waste materials repurposed into fashion textiles

The Salvation Army gathers unwanted garments and, after sorting, shreds and melts those that cannot be reused directly, creating recycled polyester pellets. Items that are still suitable for reuse are distributed through the charity's channels.

During the process, impurities such as dead skin cells and hair are stripped out, and the resulting rPET can be used to produce new clothing.

"It's the future: using the clothing we have today to make the clothing that we need tomorrow," says Plan B Circular founder Tim Cross. "We process 500kg of fabric an hour but we could easily scale up if there was demand." Tim Cross said.

"The problem is encouraging clothing manufacturers to change from using virgin polyester to recycled polyester from old textiles. And to design their new clothes to be easily recycled at their end of life." "A polyester blazer doesn't need nylon buttons and labels. A sports top doesn't need metal zips. It can all be polyester." The plant can only recycle items that are 100% polyester.