The TexMat Solution automatically sorts consumer garments for resale through digital product passport data and AI‑based imaging and data‑processing technology.

TEXMAT will revolutionise the garment reuse collection and business profitability in Europe. It incentivises consumers to bring their garments to collection machines through an effortless process: there’s no longer a need for consumers to select the suitable resale channel for their used clothes based on its condition, outlook or brand. All garments can be brought to a single location, the TexMat solution. Once a product is sold, the proceeds are automatically credited to the consumer. TexMat solution can improve business profitability, as different types of second-hand retailers can receive products through the system that their customers want, for example, based on brand, product category, size or colour. The manual sorting for either resale or garment recycling by second hand marketers will be minimised with the introduction of the TexMat solution. TexMat represents the kind of systemic innovation Europe needs by making textile circulation easy for consumers and commercially viable for businesses.

DPP provides the key data of garment

The digital product passport (DPP) is a mandatory data set for physical goods that provides information on the origin, composition, usage, maintenance, repair, and recycling of a product. The DPP consists of four pillars: a unique garment identifier, a data carrier integrated into the garment, a digital connector and an IT architecture for data exchange. This makes the DPP an enabler of traceability and data exchange across the garment lifecycle. Consequently, the DPP is not only a regulatory requirement but also a bridge between the physical garment and TexMat’s digital solutions.

Together with Protex Balti As, VTT is studying the most suitable DPP data carrier, focusing on how they can be integrated into garments and read effectively without compromising usability and durability. While the DPP provides background information on the garment, decisions on its reuse also depend on its actual condition after use.

Automated analysis of surface condition

Discarded garments exhibit varying levels of wear: some have been used for years, some are discarded due to damage or defects, and others are discarded prematurely due to the nature of fast fashion. This is a key factor in determining whether each garment is suitable for reuse or should be directed to other R-strategies.  Currently, there are no commercial solutions to automatically analyse the surface condition of garments. In the TexMat project, this is one of the key research questions.

In collaboration with TTK University of Applied Sciences, VTT is applying its years of experience in machine vision, specifically hyperspectral imaging and photography, to explore optical modalities for analysing the ‘worn out’ effect of garments. This effect manifests in various ways, such as discolouring, pilling, and fuzzing. According to preliminary results, these image analysis and computer vision methods are very promising for enabling the automatic analysis of fabric surfaces.

Fusing the rich data in the garment DPP with surface condition evaluation allows for sorting using a combination of multiple criteria. This complex array of factors can be used by each end-of-life textile management facility in specific ways, allowing us to customise the sorting procedure. In addition, providing accurate fabric types in the DPP allows for fabric-specific surface evaluation, which improves prediction accuracy. This feedback enables dynamic evaluation of a garment’s end-of-life R-strategy, enhancing textile circularity.

Pilot activities in Finland and Spain will test the system in real-world settings, helping partners refine the innovations and explore how the system could be scaled across Europe.

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Disclaimer

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Please note, this article will also appear in the 26th edition of our quarterly publication.