Many people wonder what happens to textile waste once it enters one of our plants, so we thought it was time to open the doors and share how the process really works.

At Coleo, we manage textile waste from two main sources. On one hand, we work with materials from the fashion and industrial sectors — the latter including workwear, laundries, and hospitality. On the other, we handle used clothing from selective collection systems, once garments have reached the end of their useful life. All of this material is received at our facilities and enters the same core process: classification and preparation for recycling.

The process begins with the reception of materials at our facilities. Before entering the automatic sorting line, we carry out a brief pre-sorting stage to remove non-textile elements, which are then managed through the appropriate waste channels. From there, we sort automatically by composition and colour, using proprietary technology developed by Wastex (a company within our group). This system combines hyperspectral imaging with artificial intelligence, allowing us to maximise the value of each material and direct it to the most appropriate recovery pathway.

Thanks to Wastex and its traceability system, we maintain complete information on each batch — from the moment it enters our facility to its final destination. This gives us genuine insight into material flows, supports better decision-making, helps us meet industry standards, and enables us to provide reliable, transparent information throughout the value chain. (We’ll be diving deeper into this in a dedicated post soon.)

Depending on the material’s final destination, we adapt the treatment accordingly. When textiles are destined for textile-to-textile recycling, we remove non-textile elements (such as buttons, zips or labels) to ensure the quality of the recovered material. For downcycling applications, we work according to the specific needs of our clients and partners, supplying anything from whole garments to shredded fibres, tailored to the intended use.

Last but not least, what makes our waste management plants even more special is that they operate as a Special Employment Centre, placing social employment at the heart of our circular mission.

What makes this system scalable?

It also allows us to commercialise recovered materials with consistent properties, ready to meet the growing market demand in the years ahead.

It’s a strategy for circularity.

There’s much more to come, take the next step with us!
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Post by: Álvaro Gómez – Coleo