A new study to investigate the trade of second-hand clothes from Europe´s sortingcenters to the markets of Kenya has been started by IVL, Environmenal Swedish Research Institute. The study aims to find out how the value chain is working, what costs are involved and what impact this has on the economy and from a social perspective. "We have been to Nairobi to study the market closely and we have already noticed that this is a quite conrolled and regulated industry in Kenya", says Amanda Martvall who is a researcher att IVL. The study will be published some time before the summer. Amanda Martvall , is a Sustainability Consultant and expert on textiles and circularity at the Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

Last week, CORDIS, the official European Commission platform for publishing information on EU-funded research projects and their results, announced the start of phase two of the EU-funded tExtended project, which aims to optimise textile flows and ensure materials retain their value in a sustainable way. The project seeks to develop a blueprint for a circular textile ecosystem, emphasising textile recovery, extended reuse, waste valorisation, and efficient recycling. After two years of research, tExtended is progressing with its Conceptual Framework, focusing on quality retention. This phase will prioritise classifying textile waste based on material quality, intended industrial use, economic factors, and the environmental impact of recycling processes.