The Automatic-sorting for Circularity in Textiles project (ACT UK) is a two-year pilot project (2023–2025) focused on developing solutions and designing infrastructure to manage the UK’s unwanted and unusable clothing and textiles.
The project is unlocking the potential of worn-out textiles through three key workstreams:
- Textile collections and logistics
- Technology development
- Circular textiles ecosystems
Under the ‘Circular textiles ecosystems’ workstream, several projects were undertaken. One of which was a business case review to assess the feasibility of automated sorting facilities (otherwise known as Advanced Textile Sorting and Preprocessing facilities or ATSPs) in the UK, conducted by WRAP.
At present, most used textiles collected in the UK are exported abroad for sorting and processing. Where sorting does take place domestically, it relies almost entirely on professional manual labour. ATSPs present a promising solution for automating the management of the nation’s worn-out textiles domestically.
Our assessment included market analysis, material requirements to service ATSPs, and operating model configurations in order to understand the full opportunity for the UK’s textile sorting sector. The review also evaluated a standalone ATSP facility with the capacity to process around 25,000 tonnes of worn-out textiles annually.
A visualisation of the key operational requirements and processes of an ATSP
Key insights
- Scaling up automation in this part of the value chain could enhance efficiency, reduce costs for the sector, and improve the quality of sorted materials available for textile recycling.
- Initial targeted investment will be required to purchase the necessary technology and machinery for ATSP facilities, and sustained long-term investment will be crucial to run operations whilst ATSPs are in their infancy.
- Priority opportunities to improve the economic feasibility of ATSPs, include:
- Working with collectors and sorters to increase the acceptance rate of materials into ATSPs
- Minimising transport using smart logistics and by locating ATSPs in close proximity to suppliers and buyers
- Maximising markets for ATSP feedstock by paying close attention to closed loop recyclers' requirements, and exploring open loop opportunities