6.2.5 Preparation for reuse and recycling

Before a product can be reused or recycled, it often needs preparation. For reuse, this may include cleaning, repair, quality control, relabelling, photography, pricing and redistribution. For recycling, it may include removing trims, separating material types, cutting, shredding, fibre opening, chemical pre-treatment and removing contaminants (Textile Exchange, 2025; Refashion, n.d.).

This diagram compares preparing a textile product for reuse with preparing it for recycling. Preparing for reuse: cleaning, repair, quality control, relabelling, photography, pricing, and redistribution. Preparing for recycling: removing trims, separating material types, cutting and shredding, fibre opening, chemical pre-treatment, and removing contaminants. The takeaway: preparation is labour-intensive, but it is what keeps value in the system.

Preparation is often labour-intensive, but it is essential for keeping value in the system. A garment cannot move into the right recovery route only because it has been collected. It needs to be assessed, prepared and matched with a realistic destination.

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