How TexRestore Will Extend the Life of Sweden’s Textiles
How can we move from a throwaway culture to circular textile use in practice? Through the TexRestore project, a new Swedish industrial model is now being developed to repair, restore, and extend the lifespan of textiles at scale — supported by Net Zero Industry and driven by close collaboration between industry, research, and the public sector.
Every year, enormous volumes of textiles are discarded, even though many garments still retain significant value — both economically and from a climate perspective. Through TexRestore, Swedish stakeholders are taking concrete steps to transform the textile industry’s linear system and establish a new circular model for textile restoration.
TexRestore is a collaborative project funded through Net Zero Industry, part of the Impact Innovation initiative, led by the Energimyndigheten in partnership with Vinnova and Formas, with the goal of promoting an industrial sector with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
By combining smart technologies, digital solutions, and innovative business models, the project aims to make it profitable and simple for companies to repair, upgrade, and restore garments instead of discarding them. The objective is to create a scalable and robust model for centralized restoration hubs, where collection, sorting, repair, washing, and logistics can take place under one roof.
A key component of TexRestore is the further development of RecoMended’s patented Automated Repair Module (ARM) — an advanced technology that automates textile repairs with high precision and lower costs. Combined with digital tools for traceability and resource efficiency, the solution is designed to provide fashion brands, service providers, and public organizations with practical ways to strengthen their circular offerings.
The project brings together several partners, including Wargön Innovation, which coordinates the initiative, as well as RISE, Göteborgs Stad, Kappahl, Hultafors Group, Sandqvist, Lyreco, Ridestore, Aleians, Virtual Manufacturing, and Reboot.
Societal benefits — from climate impact to new jobs
The transition from a linear to a circular textile system can deliver substantial societal benefits. Extending the lifespan of textiles reduces the need for new production, which in turn lowers climate impact, decreases resource consumption, and reduces waste. This is particularly important given that the global apparel industry accounts for significant emissions, water use, and resource extraction — challenges also addressed by new EU regulations on circularity and producer responsibility.
Susanne Eriksson, projektledare på Wargön Innovation, foto Wargön Innovation
– With TexRestore, we want to build the missing infrastructure — a model that makes it both simple and profitable for companies to take care of the textiles we already have instead of constantly producing new ones. By consolidating volumes, standardizing processes, and integrating smart digitalization, restoration becomes both competitive and climate-smart, says Susanne Eriksson, Project Manager at Wargön Innovation.
The project is also expected to create new jobs in Sweden by establishing an entire industry focused on restoration services and circular solutions.
– TexRestore gives us the opportunity to accelerate the industry’s development of circular business models. By developing and streamlining the services and offerings required, we enable the entire textile sector to move from words to action. This creates new green jobs, societal benefits, new revenue models, and increases the pace of transition toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, says Rikard Ledin da Rosa, co-founder of RecoMended.
During the project period — from November 2025 to October 2027 — the model will be tested and validated to lay the foundation for full-scale hubs in Sweden and potentially across Europe. By establishing clear KPIs for climate impact, resource use, and profitability, TexRestore aims to inspire more stakeholders to actively contribute to a circular textile industry where what has already been produced becomes the rule rather than the exception.
About Net Zero Industry
Net Zero Industry is an innovation program within Impact Innovation with the mission to create a competitive and resilient Swedish manufacturing industry with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The program supports projects that develop solutions for resource efficiency, resilience, and circular industrial models.