LoopFinder –locating circular solutions and closing the textile loop

AI Quick Summary

The fashion and textile industry heavily contributes to environmental pollution. While circular economy principles—such as recycling, refurbishing, and extending product lifespans—can reduce these impacts, a major information gap persists. No centralized resource currently offers clear data on fiber recyclability, end-of-life options, or circular service providers. The proposed LoopFinder database aims to fill this gap by serving as a comprehensive hub to support Switzerland’s circular textile transition. It will feature a fiber library detailing material properties, circular potential, and sustainability profiles; an overview of circular technologies; and tools connecting designers, brands, waste holders, and service providers. The project’s first phase will create a blueprint defining database structure, data needs, stakeholder mapping, and update processes. Future integration with AI tools and EU Digital Product Passports will further enhance data accuracy and circular innovation. The fashion and textile industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution, with Switzerland showing particularly high textile consumption and waste generation. Although circular economy principles—such as recycling, refurbishing, and extending textile lifespans—offer effective strategies to mitigate environmental impacts, stakeholders face a significant information gap.  Currently, no centralized resource provides clear guidance on fiber recyclability, end-of-life processing options, or providers of circular technologies and services. To address this, the proposed LoopFinder database will serve as a comprehensive information hub supporting Switzerland’s transition toward a circular textile economy.  LoopFinder will include a detailed fiber library outlining material characteristics, circular potential, and sustainability profiles; an overview of existing circular solutions, including recycling and refurbishing technologies; and practical tools to connect designers, brands, waste holders, and service providers.  The project’s initial phase—supported by the InnoBooster—will develop a blueprint defining database structure, data requirements, stakeholder mapping, and update mechanisms. Implemented in collaboration with Fabric Loop, LoopFinder will lay the groundwork for an integrated national knowledge platform. In the future, AI-based recognition tools and integration with EU Digital Product Passports could enhance data accuracy, accessibility, and circular innovation across Switzerland’s textile value chain.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: LoopFinder –locating circular solutions and closing the textile loop
• Date: 8/28/2025 12:24:24 PM
• Administrators:
  • Maja Wiprächtiger

Project Idea Description

The fashion and textile industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution, with Switzerland showing particularly high textile consumption and waste generation. Although circular economy principles—such as recycling, refurbishing, and extending textile lifespans—offer effective strategies to mitigate environmental impacts, stakeholders face a significant information gap. 

Currently, no centralized resource provides clear guidance on fiber recyclability, end-of-life processing options, or providers of circular technologies and services. To address this, the proposed LoopFinder database will serve as a comprehensive information hub supporting Switzerland’s transition toward a circular textile economy. 

LoopFinder will include a detailed fiber library outlining material characteristics, circular potential, and sustainability profiles; an overview of existing circular solutions, including recycling and refurbishing technologies; and practical tools to connect designers, brands, waste holders, and service providers. 

The project’s initial phase—supported by the InnoBooster—will develop a blueprint defining database structure, data requirements, stakeholder mapping, and update mechanisms. Implemented in collaboration with Fabric Loop, LoopFinder will lay the groundwork for an integrated national knowledge platform. In the future, AI-based recognition tools and integration with EU Digital Product Passports could enhance data accuracy, accessibility, and circular innovation across Switzerland’s textile value chain.

The fashion and textile industry heavily contributes to environmental pollution. While circular economy principles—such as recycling, refurbishing, and extending product lifespans—can reduce these impacts, a major information gap persists. No centralized resource currently offers clear data on fiber recyclability, end-of-life options, or circular service providers.

The proposed LoopFinder database aims to fill this gap by serving as a comprehensive hub to support Switzerland’s circular textile transition. It will feature a fiber library detailing material properties, circular potential, and sustainability profiles; an overview of circular technologies; and tools connecting designers, brands, waste holders, and service providers.

The project’s first phase will create a blueprint defining database structure, data needs, stakeholder mapping, and update processes. Future integration with AI tools and EU Digital Product Passports will further enhance data accuracy and circular innovation.