About SOLSTICE
Each year, the global garment industry produces 62 million tonnes of clothing, with consumption expected to surge by 63% by 2030. Textiles rank among the top categories for water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite shifting attitudes, consumption remains unsustainable, with 70% of wardrobes underutilized and billions of tonnes discarded annually in landfills or incinerators due to limited recycling technologies.
SOLSTICE is dedicated to addressing these pressing social and technical challenges by creating four scalable systemic solutions aimed at advancing climate-neutral and circular economy practices within the textile industry. Our approach encompasses a comprehensive 5R strategy - Refuse/Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Recycle - to encompass all facets of textile waste prevention and management.
SOLSTICE is a Horizon Europe project, funded by the European Union. It started on 1 May 2024 and will last for 42 months. It receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No. 101134989.
SOLSTICE’s strategic targets for a sustainable transformation of the textile value chain
Minimize and transform textile waste into renewable resources for the EU textile industry
SOLSTICE aims to develop a replicable awareness plan for territories, encouraging citizens to shift their shopping behaviour from fast fashion to sobriety, and inform individuals about ways to extend the lifespan of their clothes.
Boost the value of newly collected textile waste through smart sorting
SOLSTICE will innovate by developing a pioneering method for sorting textile waste using online spectroscopy analysis which enables precise sorting based on colour, composition, and fabric/garment type. The goal is to refine sorting processes to optimize chemical recycling, which minimises incineration and landfill disposal.
Highlight the reusability of textile polymers, coatings and high-value plastics through chemical recycling
The SOLSTICE project aims to innovate with a new eco-efficient, rapid chemical recycling process capable of processing all textile and plastic materials that cannot be nowadays chemically recycled under mild conditions.
Analyse the benefits of better textile collection, sorting, and recycling, facilitating the adoption of solutions across the value chain
SOLSTICE will develop a traceability system based on the Mineral Textile Profile (MTP) that will provide the basis for the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which can improve supply chain traceability and transparency.
Enable the broad implementation of SOLSTICE solutions
SOLSTICE takes a holistic approach by rethinking the entire textile and plastics value chain to ensure scalability and replicability, while aiming to organise new governance for the circular economy. This approach facilitates co-creation among stakeholders, citizens, local authorities, and companies, fostering collaboration with relevant initiatives such as the ECOSYSTEX project.
Supporting transformation through infrastructure and services
SOLSTICE will conduct demonstrations in 4 EU cities and regions. These demonstrations will serve as living laboratories, allowing us to test and refine our innovative 5R approaches in real-world settings.
Prato, Italy
Catalonia, Spain
Berlin, Germany
Grenoble, France
In each territory, SOLSTICE will collaborate closely with local stakeholders, including businesses, government agencies, academic institutions, and community organisations.
By fostering knowledge transfer and collaboration, we aim to create a rich ecosystem of expertise and resources that will maximise the impact and replicability of our initiatives.
Partnering with businesses and clusters across the textile value chain are central to the SOLSTICE’s mission. Through these collaborations, SOLSTICE seeks to unlock concrete business opportunities to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions that align with the circular economy.
Led by Axel’One, an open innovation platform in chemistry-environment in France, the SOLSTICE consortium is EU-wide and covering the whole value chain in textiles and plastics.