ReFiber Unveils Textile Circularity Model In Mumbai

Mumbai-based ReFiber has launched a pilot project to manage used textile waste across Indian cities, presenting a technology-based model at Bharat Tex 2026. The project, which was launched on World Environment Day 2026, recovered 2.7 tonnes of post-consumer textiles and received 275 collection orders from citizens.

The project was implemented in partnership with several organizations, including OterRi, Tisser, CMAI, UNIDO, World Trade Center Mumbai, and Lions International. The model combined doorstep collection, citizen participation, digital traceability, women-led upcycling, and responsible recycling.

According to ReFiber, the existing neighbourhood service networks, such as laundries, can collect unwanted clothes efficiently, reducing the need to create a separate logistics network for textile collection. The company highlighted six problems in the current system, including lack of waste segregation, citizen incentives, traceability, organised collection facilities, links with recyclers and upcyclers, and tools to measure impact.

ReFiber Chairman Shrikant Bhangdiya said the initiative aims to turn textile waste into a resource through a transparent and scalable circular system. The company plans to expand the model from Navi Mumbai to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, then Maharashtra, and eventually parts of India.

The white paper, titled 'Mumbai Textile Circular Economy Demonstration Project', was presented at the Eco Stitch Sustainability and Circularity Hub, an initiative of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India and the Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability Council. The paper was shared with policymakers, textile industry leaders, government officials, and international organizations at Bharat Tex 2026.

The project demonstrates the potential for a scalable and technology-based model to manage textile waste in Indian cities. With the fashion industry being one of the largest polluters in the world, the need for sustainable and circular practices is becoming increasingly important.

ReFiber's model provides a solution to the problem of textile waste, which can be reused, upcycled, or recycled instead of being sent to landfills. The company's plan to expand the model to other parts of India could have a significant impact on the country's textile waste management.

The success of the pilot project in Mumbai could also serve as a model for other cities in India, highlighting the importance of collaboration between organizations, citizens, and policymakers in addressing environmental issues.

In conclusion, ReFiber's textile circularity model has the potential to make a significant impact on India's textile waste management, and its expansion plans could lead to a more sustainable and circular fashion industry in the country.

The project's focus on women-led upcycling and responsible recycling also highlights the importance of empowering women and promoting sustainable livelihoods in the textile industry.

As India continues to grow and develop, the need for sustainable and circular practices will become increasingly important. ReFiber's textile circularity model provides a solution to the problem of textile waste and could serve as a model for other industries in the country.

Overall, the launch of ReFiber's textile circularity model is a significant step towards a more sustainable and circular fashion industry in India, and its potential impact on the country's textile waste management could be substantial.