T2T as a future solution for recycled polyester

Reuse instead of discard: Recycled synthetics from textile-to-textile (T2T) in the current "Urban Athleisure" activewear collection.

The current activewear collection, ‘Urban Athleisure’, once again features products containing T2T polyester. Reason enough for us to take a closer look.

We primarily use synthetic materials for our sportswear, as they offer, amongst other things, good breathability. However, the production of conventional synthetic materials consumes a great deal of fossil resources. To keep resources in circulation for longer, we rely on recycled polyester. This is not new in itself. What is new, however, is how the polyester was obtained in this case.

For two products in our current Active collection, we use recycled polyester made from textile waste, also known as ‘textile-to-textile’ (T2T). Old textiles and production waste are reused to make new products, rather than being disposed of. This process offers an alternative to conventional or recycled polyester made from PET bottles.

“We see T2T as a solution for the future on the path towards a more circular textile industry, whereas the recycling of PET bottles was more of a stopgap solution. T2T not only meets our standards in terms of impact, but is also the better solution for complying with future regulations, such as the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), as well as meeting the expectations of NGOs.”
- Lydia Schmidt, CR

The current Active collection is not the first time Tchibo has run a T2T project: in October 2024, Tchibo used recycled polyester from textile waste for four products in the Active collection. Long-sleeved functional tops and thermal functional trousers, in both the women’s and men’s collections, contained a proportion of T2T-recycled polyester. The recycled material was produced using an innovative chemical recycling process (‘Green Circle’ by Jiaren). This process involves producing polyester fibres from recycled textiles in order to conserve resources and reduce the volume of textile waste.

The use of T2T is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to reduce the amount of waste. The textile industry is one of the world’s biggest contributors to waste, as many items of clothing are thrown away after only a short period of use. By reusing textiles, we can reduce this waste and extend the lifespan of the materials.

Secondly, T2T helps to minimise resource consumption. The production of textiles requires large quantities of water, energy and raw materials such as cotton or polyester. By reusing textiles, we can reduce the demand for new materials and thus cut down on water and energy consumption.

Thirdly, T2T helps to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry. Textile production is associated with various environmental problems, such as water pollution from dyes and chemicals, or greenhouse gas emissions. By reusing textiles, we can reduce these impacts and make a positive contribution to environmental protection.

Overall, the use of Textile to Textile is important for improving the sustainability of the textile industry. By reusing textiles, we can reduce waste, conserve resources and minimise environmental impacts. It is an effective way of promoting the circular economy in the textile industry and supporting the sustainable use of our resources.

„With these training trousers and functional jacket, we not only have two truly innovative products in terms of materials and sustainability, but we also offer our customers a compelling product experience when it comes to the functionality of the fabrics: Breathable, moisture-wicking and quick-drying – all in the quality you’ve come to expect from Tchibo."
- Helen Kreßin, CNV