HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-04: Demonstrating and deploying innovative collection, sorting-for-reuse and repair systems for textiles at city/region level

SIFO has successfully conducted several research projects focused on textile and fashion sustainability, supported by national research funds, the EU, and private sector partners.

In the context of CIRCBIO-04, we seek to deepen our engagement with consumer involvement and innovative methods aimed at preventing textile waste. Our objectives include enhancing reuse and repair efforts, as well as improving post-consumer textile collection and pre-sorting practices. Our expertise encompasses a wide array of topics related to textile waste, particularly within households, where we analyze causes, measures, and practices.

We employ diverse research methodologies that often reflect an everyday life perspective. Our approach includes quantitative surveys to assess consumer practices and behaviors, experiments, field studies, and waste analyses. Additionally, we are adept in qualitative research methods, such as ethnographic interviews, home visits, walk-along interviews, wardrobe studies, and focus groups—essential tools for uncovering the underlying reasons for textile waste at the household level.

Our significant experience extends to collaborating with textile businesses, NGOs, and actors within textile waste including municipalities. For an overview of our current textile research projects, please visit SIFO's clothing research homepage.

Currently, SIFO is actively participating in and leading a work package in the EU Horizon-funded project CARE | Circular living in Europe’s Households. In this project, we collaborate with consumers from five countries to mitigate the impact of clothing consumption and food waste.