As of 1 January 2025, all EU countries must separately collect textile waste. However, many member states, as well as Western Balkan countries, lack an efficient system for this purpose. To address this challenge and develop solutions applicable across the region, 11 organisations from 9 countries have come together under the Green-Tex project.
The partner organisations include the Development Agency SERDA (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Municipality of Postojna (Slovenia); Institute for Sustainable Growth Active Nativa (Slovenia); Civic Association Eko Charity Slovakia For Slovakia (Slovakia); Eurotex Ltd. (Bulgaria); Municipality of Majur (Croatia); Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb (Croatia); University “Donja Gorica” (Montenegro); Regional Development Agency Zlatibor (Serbia); Association for Inter-Community Development “Metropolitan Area of Bucharest” (Romania); and the Innovative Association “First Responsible Hungarian” (Hungary).
Textile production is one of the most polluting industries, generating 20% of industrial wastewater and emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases. For instance, producing a single cotton shirt requires 2,700 litres of water—equivalent to what one person drinks over 2.5 years. At the same time, 86% of clothing ends up in landfills or is incinerated after use, with only 1% being recycled.
Green-Tex aims to create and test new solutions in the production chain, from designing new products to collecting textile waste. Digital tools, such as an interactive map with designated collection points, will be an integral part of the Green-Tex learning and innovation platform. For example, the Municipality of Postojna, in collaboration with the association Prostor, raises awareness of the consequences of excessive textile consumption by offering sustainable alternatives to traditional shopping habits through engaging workshops and clothing exchange events.
Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, and parts of Hungary and Bulgaria have implemented successful practices that can be adapted in countries still developing their textile recycling systems, including Romania and EU candidate countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia.
Founded in 2003, The Sarajevo Regional Development Agency (SERDA) supports economic development in the Sarajevo macro-region and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It implements projects in innovation, entrepreneurship, ecology, and sustainable development, frequently collaborating with domestic and international partners, including the EU, to strengthen economic competitiveness, attract investment, and support small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Working with our partners from Slovenia, we realised that we share a common issue with textile waste and could contribute to its reduction while facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experiences between EU member states and candidate countries,” explains Amela Ikić Suljagić, project manager at SERDA.
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, SERDA is collecting textile waste. We have acquired ten smart containers equipped with sensors and will analyse local consumption and waste patterns, optimise collection routes, and work on finding the best solutions for the collected waste—whether through recycling, reuse, or repurposing,” says Ikić Suljagić. She adds that SERDA’s partners in this effort include the local utility company and the relevant ministry in the Sarajevo Canton government.
In Bulgaria, at a mechanical recycling plant, samples of collected waste from Bucharest will be used to develop prototypes of new products made from worn-out fibres. In Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia, the project will test the broader application of locally sourced natural fibres in textile production and develop a prototype of a new non-woven product, combining recycled wool with recycled textile waste unsuitable for reuse. The initiative also seeks solutions for multiple uses of wool, much of which currently ends up discarded in illegal dumpsites. In Montenegro and Slovenia, the project will explore innovative solutions for sustainable and green fashion design by creating eco-friendly fashion collections.
Green-Tex will introduce innovative production technologies such as water-free dyeing, increased use of recycled materials, support for sustainable brands and manufacturers employing eco-friendly methods, and expanding textile recycling by placing easily accessible collection points in visible locations such as shopping centres and schools. Incentives for citizens, such as store discounts or clothing exchange programmes, promote vintage fashion, clothing swaps, thrift shops, and in-store recycling programmes.
Green-Tex has a budget of €1.79 million, 80% of which is provided by the Interreg Programme. Currently, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria have established best practices that can be transferred to countries candidate.
Interreg is a key European Union (EU) instrument for strengthening cooperation between the Western Balkans and EU member states. For the 2021–2027 period, the programme focuses on addressing challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and social inclusion. With a budget of €10 billion, part of the funds is allocated to the EU’s outermost regions and neighbouring countries, as well as specific geographic areas of strategic importance to Europe, such as the Gulf of Guinea, the Indian Ocean, and the Mozambique Channel. The programme aims to enhance the EU’s cohesion policy, addressing specific challenges across Europe and beyond. The priorities until 2027 include smart growth, green transition, social inclusion, territorial development, and efficient and sustainable infrastructure.
Green-Tex aims to create and test new solutions in the production chain, from designing new products to collecting textile waste. Digital tools, such as an interactive map with designated collection points, will be an integral part of the Green-Tex learning and innovation platform. For example, the Municipality of Postojna, in collaboration with the association Prostor, raises awareness of the consequences of excessive textile consumption by offering sustainable alternatives to traditional shopping habits through engaging workshops and clothing exchange events.
Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, and parts of Hungary and Bulgaria have implemented successful practices that can be adapted in countries still developing their textile recycling systems, including Romania and EU candidate countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia.
Founded in 2003, The Sarajevo Regional Development Agency (SERDA) supports economic development in the Sarajevo macro-region and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It implements projects in innovation, entrepreneurship, ecology, and sustainable development, frequently collaborating with domestic and international partners, including the EU, to strengthen economic competitiveness, attract investment, and support small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Working with our partners from Slovenia, we realised that we share a common issue with textile waste and could contribute to its reduction while facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experiences between EU member states and candidate countries,” explains Amela Ikić Suljagić, project manager at SERDA.
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, SERDA is collecting textile waste. We have acquired ten smart containers equipped with sensors and will analyse local consumption and waste patterns, optimise collection routes, and work on finding the best solutions for the collected waste—whether through recycling, reuse, or repurposing,” says Ikić Suljagić. She adds that SERDA’s partners in this effort include the local utility company and the relevant ministry in the Sarajevo Canton government.
In Bulgaria, at a mechanical recycling plant, samples of collected waste from Bucharest will be used to develop prototypes of new products made from worn-out fibres. In Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia, the project will test the broader application of locally sourced natural fibres in textile production and develop a prototype of a new non-woven product, combining recycled wool with recycled textile waste unsuitable for reuse. The initiative also seeks solutions for multiple uses of wool, much of which currently ends up discarded in illegal dumpsites. In Montenegro and Slovenia, the project will explore innovative solutions for sustainable and green fashion design by creating eco-friendly fashion collections.
Green-Tex will introduce innovative production technologies such as water-free dyeing, increased use of recycled materials, support for sustainable brands and manufacturers employing eco-friendly methods, and expanding textile recycling by placing easily accessible collection points in visible locations such as shopping centres and schools. Incentives for citizens, such as store discounts or clothing exchange programmes, promote vintage fashion, clothing swaps, thrift shops, and in-store recycling programmes.
Green-Tex has a budget of €1.79 million, 80% of which is provided by the Interreg Programme. Currently, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria have established best practices that can be transferred to countries candidate.
Interreg is a key European Union (EU) instrument for strengthening cooperation between the Western Balkans and EU member states. For the 2021–2027 period, the programme focuses on addressing challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and social inclusion. With a budget of €10 billion, part of the funds is allocated to the EU’s outermost regions and neighbouring countries, as well as specific geographic areas of strategic importance to Europe, such as the Gulf of Guinea, the Indian Ocean, and the Mozambique Channel. The programme aims to enhance the EU’s cohesion policy, addressing specific challenges across Europe and beyond. The priorities until 2027 include smart growth, green transition, social inclusion, territorial development, and efficient and sustainable infrastructure.
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