Meet the woman who's revolutionizing how we handle textile waste. Rikke Bech, CEO and founder of NewRetex, joins us from her facility in Denmark to reveal how her company has developed groundbreaking automated sorting technology that's changing the economics of textile recycling.

Five years ago, Rikke saw a gap in the textile industry's approach to waste. While brands were talking about sustainability, the infrastructure to actually recycle clothing effectively didn't exist. Textile sorting remained labor-intensive, imprecise, and unprofitable. Drawing inspiration from the food industry's traceability systems and leveraging advanced technology, she created a solution that sorts post-consumer textiles into 31 different material and color categories with unprecedented precision.

What makes NewRetex truly innovative isn't just the technology—it's their business model. Unlike traditional textile collectors who pay for feedstock and try to profit through resale, NewRetex receives payment from municipalities for their sorting services. They've flipped the economics of textile waste while building a comprehensive data collection system that follows materials from collection through recycling.

We explore the entire process: from initial sorting where approximately 15% of items are directed to reuse, through the automated sorting lines that use near-infrared technology, augmented reality, and RGB scanning to identify materials with incredible accuracy. Rikke explains how their system produces recycled fibers that are being transformed into new yarns and garments, with clear traceability that earned them the distinction of becoming the first sorting company in the world to receive GRS certification.

As Extended Producer Responsibility regulations approach in Europe, NewRetex' scalable technology offers a blueprint for how textile waste can be processed globally. The future of fashion is circular, and companies like NewRetex are building the infrastructure to make it possible.

Check out this fascinating conversation about innovation, sustainability, and how one startup is transforming an industry's approach to waste.

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Join us in this insightful episode as we engage with Steffen, the dynamic co-founder of Eeden, a pioneering startup in the textile recycling sphere. In this episode, we delve deep into how Eeden leverages innovative recycling technologies to reclaim the two most common materials in textiles: cotton and polyester.

Steffen shares his perspectives on the current state of the textile recycling market, unpacking the implications of rising regulatory pressures, investor sentiments, and macroeconomic trends. He contemplates the relationship between supply, demand, and pricing dynamics, stressing the pivotal role regulations play in shaping investor confidence in sustainable solutions. Throughout our conversation, we explore various recycling methods, showcasing the innovations that allow companies like Eeden to effectively manage mixed-fiber waste and create new textile solutions.

As we navigate through the intricacies of recycling technology, Steffen emphasizes the necessity for a holistic approach to sustainability. Effective recycling cannot be just about recycling alone; it requires addressing the entire textile lifecycle to ensure meaningful environmental improvement. We conclude with Steffen's vision for the future of textile recycling, where market acceptance, regulatory support, and technological advancements come together to drive the industry towards a sustainable, circular future. Tune in to learn more about how we can collectively revolutionize the textile landscape for a brighter, greener tomorrow!

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In this conversation, Martijn Lopes Cardozo shares his journey from a corporate career to becoming a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, discussing the challenges and lessons learned along the way. He reflects on his return to Europe, the struggles he faced in replicating his success, and how he found purpose after setbacks. Martijn emphasizes the importance of focusing on purpose over traditional success metrics and discusses his role in the circular economy, particularly through his leadership at Circle Economy Foundation. The conversation also touches on the significance of the Circularity Gap Report and the ongoing challenges in achieving a circular economy. In this conversation, Martijn Lopes Cardozo discusses his work at Regeneration VC, focusing on the excitement of working with entrepreneurs in the impact investing space. He shares insights on the challenges and opportunities within the circular economy, the importance of a solid investment thesis, and the criteria for selecting investments. Martijn emphasizes the significance of geographical focus, particularly in the US market, and highlights innovative solutions to pressing issues like food waste (Orbirsk). He also addresses the need for measurable impact in investments and the challenges of scaling impact startups while balancing financial returns with social and environmental impact.

Carl and Martin already met two years ago creating the first Circular Gap Report on city level with CIRCULAR REPUBLIC. In the conversation, Carl mentioned a circular economy database called Easy Match.

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