The mass balance approach. Rethinking textile recycling
We work to build a network of recycling facilities capable of efficiently and scalably manage the textile waste generated across Europe. To achieve this, we use proprietary technology developed by Wastex (a group company), which allows us to classify materials homogeneously and prepare them for subsequent recycling or valorisation. This model is essential to meet the growing demand for recycled materials expected from the textile industry in the coming years, as well as to find appropriate outcome for the large volume of materials that can be recovered across various sectors.
But for such a system to function at scale, technology and industrial capacity are not enough. It also requires a methodology and operation that guarantee traceability, efficiency, and transparency in the use of resources. This is where the mass balance approach comes in.
What is mass balance?
When we talk about mass balance, we refer to a traceability and control system that allows proportional and audited assignment of the (recycled) materials entering the production process, even when they come from diverse sources and are physically mixed together.
Instead of operating with separated flows for each type of waste or client, mass balance allows all those flows to be managed jointly and efficiently, while maintaining detailed control over how much material enters, where it comes from, and how it is distributed across final products.
The key is not to avoid mixing, but to manage it with traceability and intent, allowing this controlled blend of origins to translate into a viable, efficient, and transparent production model.
At Coleo, we adopt the mass balance approach as a key tool to enhance operational efficiency within our recycling plants. When processing materials that will be recycled (although from different sources, formats, and compositions), this system enables us to manage large volumes of textile waste jointly, optimising resources and avoiding unnecessary fragmentation of flows.
This logic aligns with the principle of operational pooling, where grouping compatible waste and similar demand streams allows for faster, more effective management. Rather than keeping all flows segregated, we combine materials with common attributes to increase volumes by product type, improve operational efficiency, and create output for materials that, on their own, may not have a viable path.
This approach not only improves internal efficiency but also enables us to scale the system realistically, generating more consistent and homogeneous volumes by type of final product. In doing so, we can expand the range of recycled materials we offer to the market, both from the waste management division and the commercial arm (Coleo Studio) and ensure greater supply continuity for each material type. This allows us to better connect sorted materials with their final use, always seeking the best fit for each processed material whether in spinning, industrial applications, or lower-value-added solutions.
All of this is done while maintaining documented control over the origin and type of processed material, ensuring that traceability and transparency are not compromised, but instead integrated into the very structure of the system. Thus, mass balance becomes a tool for scaling textile recycling in a viable, structured, and impactful way.
Instead of operating with separated flows for each type of waste or client, mass balance allows all those flows to be managed jointly and efficiently, while maintaining detailed control over how much material enters, where it comes from, and how it is distributed across final products.
The key is not to avoid mixing, but to manage it with traceability and intent, allowing this controlled blend of origins to translate into a viable, efficient, and transparent production model.
At Coleo, we adopt the mass balance approach as a key tool to enhance operational efficiency within our recycling plants. When processing materials that will be recycled (although from different sources, formats, and compositions), this system enables us to manage large volumes of textile waste jointly, optimising resources and avoiding unnecessary fragmentation of flows.
This logic aligns with the principle of operational pooling, where grouping compatible waste and similar demand streams allows for faster, more effective management. Rather than keeping all flows segregated, we combine materials with common attributes to increase volumes by product type, improve operational efficiency, and create output for materials that, on their own, may not have a viable path.
This approach not only improves internal efficiency but also enables us to scale the system realistically, generating more consistent and homogeneous volumes by type of final product. In doing so, we can expand the range of recycled materials we offer to the market, both from the waste management division and the commercial arm (Coleo Studio) and ensure greater supply continuity for each material type. This allows us to better connect sorted materials with their final use, always seeking the best fit for each processed material whether in spinning, industrial applications, or lower-value-added solutions.
All of this is done while maintaining documented control over the origin and type of processed material, ensuring that traceability and transparency are not compromised, but instead integrated into the very structure of the system. Thus, mass balance becomes a tool for scaling textile recycling in a viable, structured, and impactful way.
The Key: Knowledge + Infrastructure
All of this is made possible thanks to years of accumulated experience, the development of supporting technology (hardware & software), and the infrastructure within our plant network: three operational plants in Spain, one in Morocco, and a new opening in France.
In short, embracing the mass balance approach in textile recycling has not just been a technical choice, it’s a strategic one. It is what allows us to bring value to waste, meet market demands transparently, and build a textile recycling model based on measurable and auditable information.
Post by: Álvaro Gómez – Coleo
