Refashion frequently asked questions

Refashion frequently
asked questions

Looking for information ? The most frequently
asked questions are listed in our FAQ

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What can we do with fabric offcuts?

For fabric offcuts, it is recommended to separate them by type of material and to label the bags. Then, you should contact the collection operators and the sorting operators who have an agreement with Refashion, or directly with the shredders, specifying the materials and quantities.

Do not hesitate to ask local recycling centres and associations if they are interested in this type of collection.

Triman logo and sorting info: (last update on 04/02/2022)

The AGEC law imposes the use of the TRIMAN sign accompanied by information on sorting actions from 1 January 2022.

The sorting information sign proposed by Refashion has been validated on February 1, 2022. This sign will be mandatory on all clothing, household linen and footwear products marketed in France from February 1, 2023 (the compliance period extends to August 1, 2023 for products manufactured or imported before February 1, 2023).

Refashion provides its members the TRIMAN sign and the sorting information here, these elements will be supplemented by a user guide with recommendations on the size of the sorting information.

What is the difference between the Eco-design and the Recycle platforms?

The Ecodesign platform brings content and training to the manufacturers who want to improve their ecodesign approach while the Refashion Recycle platform ease access to materials resulting from recycling, and the development of full-scale solutions for textiles and footwear recycling

How can I dispose of anti-Covid face masks?

For used surgical and FFP masks:
For health reasons, private individuals are asked to dispose of used tissues, masks and gloves in a dedicated, resistant plastic bag with a functional closure system. This bag must be carefully closed then conserved for 24 hours before being placed in a domestic waste rubbish bag. Used tissues, masks and gloves must NOT be placed in the "yellow" recyclable rubbish bin (packaging, papers, cardboard, plastics).

For reusable fabric masks:
Once the mask has been used, place it in a plastic bag until it is washed; wash it and reuse it (according to the recommended number of washes at the temperature indicated). Once the mask can no longer be used you should follow the same procedure as single-use masks; in other words, place the mask in a dedicated, resistant plastic bag which can be closed. This bag must be carefully closed then conserved for 24 hours before being placed in the domestic waste rubbish bag.

What is the French AGEC law?

Law n° 2020-105 of February 10, 2020 against waste and for the circular economy (AGEC) gives a huge boost to the ecological transition. It marks an important stage for the CHF industry (Clothing, Household linen & Footwear), resolutely committed to sustainable development, and furthers the initiatives already taken in this sense.

To find out more consult our Essential which explains the texts of the law for the textile and footwear industry.

When and how to get your Unique Identification Number (UDI) ?

When will it be delivered?

The generation of Unique Identification Numbers (UDI) will start from 03/01/2022 and will be available within 48 hours after registration in SYDEREP.

How?

The registration of the producer in SYDEREP is carried out by the eco-organisation only, no action by the producer is necessary.

Why is this necessary?

The IDU is a proof for producers that they are registered with the eco-organisation and up to date with their eco-contributions, as required by law. The IDU is used to facilitate the monitoring and control of compliance with the EPR obligations incumbent on producers.

The unique identification number is valid for 1 year and is renewed every year.

Is there a penalty procedure in case of cancellation of the unique identification number?

Yes, the eco-organisation will ask to ADEME to cancel the unique identification number, for all producers who no longer comply with their legal obligations, declaration and payment of the eco-contribution, and will be subject to the sanctions stipulated in Article L. 541-9-5.

If you are still not a member, you must quickly register here and follow the procedure that will be indicated to you.

Special case of marketplaces: The marketplace assumes the status of producer on behalf of its third-party sellers, except for the third-party sellers who communicate their IDU number to it.

Deployment of the Triman logo, ban on destroying unsold items … what does the French AGEC law say?

The terms and conditions of application of the French AGEC law are the focus of continued discussions with CHF industry stakeholders, and will soon be fixed by regulatory measures (decrees and orders).
To find out more, refer to the legal text on the Légifrance site and our article on unsold items

What does Refashion do with respect to environmental labelling?

Refashion is closely monitoring works conducted by the ADEME and the French Ministry for Ecological Transition. We are participating in the various pilot working groups.

Refashion is also a member of the PEFCR Apparel & Footwear technical secretariat (Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules). It consists in a strategic project, on the initiative of the European Commission, which aims to define common calculation rules for the environmental footprints of clothing and footwear at a European level.

What is the French experiment on the environmental labelling of textiles and footwear?

In February 2020, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition launched an 18 month experiment on environmental labelling, with a particular focus being placed on textiles and footwear.

The objective is that brands, suppliers and manufacturers voluntarily take part in this experiment in order to develop an adapted rating standard to enable consumers to compare the environmental performances of various brands. The ADEME (Ecological transition agency) has put in place three working groups to permit volunteer companies to get involved. To participate in this experiment, please contact the ADEME.

To find out more consult the French Ministry for Ecological Transition's website.

Does the eco-organisation financially support innovative recycling projects?

Every year, Refashion organises the Innovation Challenge, a call for R&D projects open to all companies looking to develop recycling solutions for used, non-reusable CHF collected in France. The Innovation Challenge has a dual mission:

  • Identify and scale up innovative industrial and commercial solutions which optimise textile and footwear recycling;
  • Speed up the development of a more circular industry in synergy with other sectors looking to use recycled materials (construction, automobile, etc.).

The challenge is to recycle 100 000 tonnes of used, non-reusable textiles and footwear into new materials (equating to 40% of the 250 000 tonnes collected, sorted and prepared from 2020).
Details of the Innovation Challenge are set out on the Speed Up Recycling page. Contact us for more information!

Can projects concern all types of textiles or footwear?

Projects must concern the recycling of used, non-reusable textiles and footwear from consumer households in France. Projects targeting the recycling of products other than used textiles and footwear from households (production offcuts, professional clothing etc) are not eligible, unless they can be associated with used textiles and footwear recycling in the same process.
Explanations are set out in the rules which feature in the application to be downloaded via the link on the Speed Up Recycling page.

What types of projects are accepted?

Within the context of the 2020 edition of its call for projects, Refashion is seeking out recycling development technology projects for used, non-reusable textiles or footwear from consumer households, focusing on one or both of the following strategic lines:

  1.  Material preparation: Sorting techniques, material characterisation, separation and preparation methods; Optimisation of reverse logistics and scaling up of material deposits

  2. The incorporation of recycled materials in products from other industries (construction, automobile, etc.): Development of recycled materials able to be used in several industries; Development of products other than textiles and footwear able to include significant volumes of recycled materials

Explanations are set out in the rules which feature in the application to be downloaded via the link on the Speed Up Recycling page.

When is the "Innovation Challenge" call for projects open?

In 2021, the Innovation Challenge changes its format and encourages multi-stakeholder collaborations. The call for projects is open from October 5 to November 23, 2021. More information on the Accelerating Recycling page.

Where can I find information on the projects supported by the eco-organisation?

During the past 10 years, the eco-organisation has supported 52 projects via the Innovation Challenge. The various projects supported are set out in detail in the Innovation magazine.

What is eco-design?

The objective of eco-design is to take account of the entire life cycle from the design of a process, good or service (production, manufacturing, transport, maintenance, end-of-life ...) by minimising environmental impacts.
Eco-design also means ensuring that the performance of a product or service is not degraded by reducing its environmental impacts. The service provided must be equivalent or superior.

How does Refashion accompany companies in their eco-design initiatives?

Refashion has created Eco design : the 1st platform which accompanies brand product teams to eco-design textiles and footwear whatever stage they are at in this domain.

The eco-organisation also supports research and development projects in eco-design. To find out more, see our Innovation publication.

Refashion has also settled the "Eco-Design meetings". Digital and physical workshops to raise awareness and provide support to members to help them discover the challenges of the circular economy and make progress on specific issues (durability, recyclability, incorporation of recycled materials, etc.). To learn more, it's right here.

What is the Eco design platform?

Refashion has created Eco design the 1st platform which accompanies brand product teams in the eco-design of their textiles and footwear whatever stage they are at in this domain.

Eco-design offers numerous advantages to textile and footwear brands: minimisation of their environmental impacts, economic savings, value creation, innovation factor, better brand image, … The objective of the Eco design platform is to respond to the waste reduction problem and improve the durability and recyclability of textiles and footwear.

So whether you're an expert in the circular economy or just curious to find out more about eco-design, the Eco design platform is designed for you!

Looking for unconventional materials to use in your products ? Organic materials ? Recycled materials? Bio-sourced materials?

For material / organic product sourcing, you can consult the list of suppliers approved according to the GOTS standard: https://www.global-standard.org/fr/base-de-donnees-publique.html

For material / recycled product sourcing, you can consult the list of GRS or RCS certified suppliers (to be selected in the search field) : https://textileexchange.org/standards
If you want to discover new materials, Refashion recommends the Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber & Materials report which identifies solutions to avoid using conventional materials.

If you haven't found an answer to your question on eco-design

Send your question to faq@refashion.fr and we'll answer you as quickly as possible.

What should I do with my unsold products ?

Refashion is not a collection, sorting or recycling operator.
More information on our activities is set out in the 2019 Activity Report and the Innovation magazine. The law of February 10, 2020 against wastage and for the circular economy stipulates that the destruction of unsold products will be banned from January 1, 2022

To recycle your unused stocks (faulty or unsold items, production offcuts…), contact collection operators (self-deposit bank owners) and sorting operators under contract with the eco-organisation or directly contact garnett operators.

Solutions also exist to reduce the quantity of unsold items upstream. To find out more, see our "It's up to you" sheet on the Eco design platform: Identify solutions to reduce and recycle my unsold items

Or download our directory of solutions for your unsold products.

What is a garnett operator?

A garnett operator is a textile recycler. Garnatting is carried out on industrial lines and consists in passing non-reusable textiles (production off-cuts, used clothing) on high-speed pin cylinders where fabric is progressively defibered. Garnatting is a mechanical process which does not separate the different types of fibres present in the textiles or remove their colour. The fibre applications obtained are namely non-woven.

List of garnett operators in France

Looking to put in place a used CHF collection service in a shop ?

Refashion is not a collection, sorting or recycling operator. More information on our activities is set out in the 2019 Activity Report and the Innovation magazine.
To put in place a collection service in a shop, contact collection operators (self-deposit bank owners) and sorting operators under contract with the eco-organisation.

Looking to recycle Professional Clothing/PPE?

Refashion is not a collection, sorting or recycling operator.
More information on our activities is set out in the 2019 Activity Report and the Innovation magazine.

Professional Clothing / PPE are not concerned by recycling; they are therefore not covered by the recycling industries for household CHF. You can nevertheless contact collection operators (self-deposit bank owners) and sorting operators - otherwise contact garnett operators directly.
Alternatively, you can contact the association OREE which coordinates the FRIVEP project (Reuse and Industrial Recycling industry for Professional Clothing) within the context of the Foam and Textile Recovery Business Club.

Do recycling circuits exist for protective face masks?

It is currently recommended to dispose of used face masks in order to avoid any risk of contamination. Recycling solutions targeting textile industry players and marketers are however emerging such as the solution proposed by Plaxtil, which transforms used face masks into a recyclable composite material.

If you haven't found the answer to your question on recycling

Send your question to faq@refashion.fr and we will respond as quickly as possible.

Request an interview or a partnership

Please send your request to communication@refashion.fr

You are a marketer

By marketer we are referring to: an industry player or manufacturer selling items manufactured in France or abroad under his brand name, importers (wholesalers or retailers), suppliers for products with their own brand name and for products directly imported.

Looking for information ? The most frequently asked questions are listed in our marketer FAQ

You are an operator

By operator we are referring to: all collection and recovery agents for used Clothing, Household linen and Footwear (CHF) textiles.

Looking for information ? The most frequently asked questions are listed in our Operator FAQ