A new factory will see waste textiles remanufactured end-to-end into new products in a UK-first. The business behind it, MYGroup, says it will put Hull on the map as an innovation centre for textiles recycling, leading the charge in reducing the environmental impact of and promoting circularity in the fashion industry.
The two-storey, 1300 sq.m. factory space, being constructed within a derelict former laboratory and offices on MYGroup’s recycling campus in Hull, will house a complete, state-of-the-art recycling and remanufacturing process for waste textiles, from clothing to accessories and home furnishings.
Textiles will enter a sorting and grading room before being processed through a commercial-grade cleaning cycle and a deconstruction process to remove hardware, such as zippers and buttons, and separate multi-materials. Once cleaned and broken down to bare constituent materials, the textiles will be transformed into new garments, accessories and other products by MYGroup’s dedicated ReFactory team, working in a state-of-the-art pattern-cutting and design studio, as well as an industrial-grade machine production floor.
By adopting an end-to-end recycling and remanufacturing process, the factory aims to divert a substantial portion of textile waste from landfill and incineration. This circular approach ensures that discarded textiles find new life, reducing the demand for virgin resources and mitigating the environmental impact of textile production.
Sustainability will be built into the very fabric of the building, with MYGroup’s own MYboard™, a material similar in consistency to plywood, produced entirely from plastic the company recycles at its Hull facility. MYboard will be used for interior walls, together with other environmentally conscious design elements, such as sensor-lighting in high-traffic areas and water-saving toilets.
MYGroup recently purchased industrial sewing machines and other specialist equipment from a ceased clothing manufacturer, further ensuring sustainability and circularity in the approach to the factory launch.
The first phase of the factory will be complete this Autumn, including the sewing floor, pattern-cutting studio and storage. Further phases will add the sorting, grading and washing spaces, as well as offices and a training centre. A further £400K investment is planned for the factory, set to be fully operational by the spring of 2024.
The problem of waste clothing and textiles in the UK has become a significant environmental concern in recent years, with the ‘fast fashion industry’ particularly – characterised by cheaply produced and disposable clothing – contributing to a culture of overconsumption and rapid discarding of garments.
According to leading waste charity the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the UK consumed around 1.1 million tons of textiles in 2019, making it one of the largest consumers of clothing in Europe. WRAP estimates that approximately 350,000 tons of used clothing and textiles was sent to landfill in 2019 alone.
“The landscape of the fashion and textiles industry is changing. No longer can the linear model of ‘take, make and dispose’ continue. Legislation to enforce a more circular approach is fast approaching and we are seeing more and more of the largest brands in the industry engaging with us on recycling their waste textiles., “ said Katie Robinson, Textiles Manager, MYGroup
“We are proud to launch this pioneering venture that showcases the company and the city of Hull’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. We’re ahead of the curve and building a factory of the future – our end-to-end recycling process combined with remanufacturing capabilities will revolutionise the way our industry thinks about textiles waste, “ added Steve Carrie, Director, MYGroup.
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