Result 2 – Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations

The Green-Tex project successfully achieved Programme Result Indicator 1.1.2 by ensuring that jointly developed circular textile solutions were taken up and integrated into the regular activities of participating organisations. Rather than remaining pilot initiatives, the developed solutions became part of operational practices, educational programmes and circular business processes, demonstrating their practical applicability, sustainability and strong potential for further replication across the Danube Region.

The project delivered three complementary solutions addressing key challenges along the textile value chain: smart textile waste collection, integrated circular textile management and recycling, and green fashion design. Together, these solutions provide a comprehensive circular approach covering textile collection, sorting, recycling, product development, education and behavioural change.

A significant uptake was achieved by KJKP “RAD” Sarajevo through the implementation of the Smart Textile Waste Collection System solution. Following successful pilot testing, the solution was integrated into the daily operations of the municipal waste management company. Ten smart textile waste collection containers equipped with digital monitoring technology were installed across Sarajevo Canton, enabling real-time monitoring of collection points, optimisation of collection schedules and data-driven operational planning. During implementation, continuous monitoring and analysis supported more efficient resource allocation and service planning, while an estimated 5.46 tonnes of textile waste are expected to be collected annually through the established system. The solution represents the first smart textile waste collection system implemented in Sarajevo and provides a replicable model for municipalities seeking to modernise textile waste management through digital technologies.

An equally important contribution was delivered by EUROTEX Ltd., operating under the TexCycle brand, through the development and uptake of an Integrated Circular Textile Management Model linking separate textile collection, sorting, preparation for reuse, mechanical recycling and circular product development. Building upon the interconnected Pilot 1 and Pilot 2 activities, the solution demonstrated how post-consumer textiles collected from households can be transformed into valuable secondary raw materials instead of being disposed of as waste. Textiles collected through cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania were systematically sorted into reuse, preparation for reuse, industrial cleaning cloths, mechanical recycling, energy recovery and disposal streams. Suitable fractions were mechanically recycled into recycled textile fibres and subsequently transformed into non-woven textile materials and demonstration products, including sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, vests and pet beds. The project also successfully tested innovative blends of recycled textile fibres and locally sourced wool, supported by laboratory analyses evaluating their technical characteristics and future application potential. Through this integrated model, EUROTEX strengthened its operational capacities, validated circular recycling methodologies and established a practical demonstration of how circular textile value chains can be implemented at regional level. The solution has already been incorporated into the company's operational know-how and provides a strong foundation for future expansion of textile collection, recycling and circular manufacturing activities.

Another important solution uptake was achieved in Serbia. The solution combined capacity building, awareness raising, equipment procurement and stakeholder cooperation to address the underutilisation of raw wool in the Zlatibor District, where significant quantities of wool are generated each year but remain largely unused. Practical workshops revived traditional knitting, weaving and wool processing techniques while introducing participants to circular economy principles, upcycling and sustainable textile production. In parallel, study visits enabled key regional stakeholders to exchange knowledge on innovative textile solutions and circular business models implemented in other European countries.

To strengthen long-term implementation, the project provided specialised wool shearing equipment and a dedicated wool collection container, which have been integrated into the operational activities of the Agro-Technical Centre Machine Ring and Zlatiborski Eko Agrar. The equipment is now used both for farmer training and for improving the quantity and quality of locally collected wool. Furthermore, the pilot contributed to a systemic improvement in local wool waste management through cooperation with the Municipality of Čajetina and the local Public Utility Company, creating conditions for organised collection and future recycling of wool waste. Beyond the project lifetime, the solution continues to be promoted through cooperation with local creative industries, second-hand clothing initiatives and community events that encourage textile reuse, sustainable fashion and circular consumption. These activities demonstrate how traditional knowledge, local resources and community engagement can successfully support the transition towards a circular textile economy while preserving cultural heritage and creating new opportunities for rural development.

The Green Fashion Design Solution complemented these technical solutions by strengthening education, awareness and innovation capacities. The methodology was integrated into student-oriented educational and practical activities, improving knowledge and competencies related to sustainable fashion, circular economy principles, upcycling and responsible textile resource management. Through workshops, practical training, awareness campaigns and Green Fashion Show events, students and stakeholders actively participated in designing sustainable textile solutions while increasing their understanding of responsible consumption patterns. Building upon the successful validation of the methodology, the University of Donja Gorica in Montenegro initiated the accreditation process for new academic modules in Green Fashion Design and Green Design in Sports, ensuring the long-term institutional uptake of project results beyond the project lifetime.

Collectively, Green-Tex solutions generated significant institutional, operational and behavioural changes. Municipal waste management organisations introduced digital and evidence-based decision-making; recycling companies strengthened circular processing capacities and validated innovative recycling technologies; regional development agencies promoted the sustainable use of local natural fibres while preserving traditional knowledge and supporting rural communities; and higher education institutions embedded sustainability and circular economy principles into formal education. Together, the solutions reinforced cooperation among municipalities, businesses, universities, civil society organisations and citizens, demonstrating the effectiveness of the quadruple helix approach in accelerating the green transition of the textile sector.

The implementation process provided valuable lessons for future replication. Smart monitoring technologies demonstrated the importance of data-driven waste management, while integrated collection, sorting and recycling processes confirmed that post-consumer textiles can successfully become secondary raw materials for new circular products. The Green Fashion Design methodology highlighted that active learning, creativity and stakeholder engagement are effective mechanisms for promoting long-term behavioural change and sustainable consumption. Cross-border cooperation between project partners further strengthened knowledge exchange, operational learning and validation of the developed solutions under different regional conditions.

Together, the Green-Tex solutions cover the entire circular textile value chain-from separate collection of textile waste, digital monitoring and recycling, through the utilisation of locally sourced natural fibres and preservation of traditional craftsmanship, to sustainable fashion design, education and innovation. Their successful uptake by participating organisations demonstrates that the developed approaches are technically feasible, institutionally embedded and transferable to other regions. The clear commitment of partners to continue implementing and expanding these solutions after project completion provides a strong basis for future replication, policy uptake and wider deployment across the Danube Region, ensuring long-term environmental, economic and social benefits.

Results